Common people

I got a philosophic boost by listening to Common People by Pulp today. I just love the lyrics where a poor Englishman genuinely makes an effort to show a Greek rich girl of how life as poor is. But she just doesn't get it (She didn't understand, she just smiled and held my hand).

"cut your hair and get a job.
Smoke some fags and play some pool,
pretend you never went to school.
But still you'll never get it right,
cos when you're laid in bed at night,
watching roaches climb the wall,
if you call your Dad he could stop it all.
you'll never watch your life slide out of view,
and dance and drink and screw,
because there's nothing else to do"

Dancing, drinking and screwing is hence just an inferior substitute to something better. Although they hint that there is something better to do for "un-common" people, they unfortunately don't mention what it is.

Apart from the part which I think is hilarious (the part when he drags her to the store to "pretend you have no money", just to show what "common" is being like. I find it funny that he tries so hard for her to get it), one has to note that Pulp doesn't seem to know what they would do if they weren't "common", but just the things they want to avoid from being "common". The grass seems to be greener on the other side, but what does "un-common" people do that is so attractive? We never learn that in the song, which is unfortunate. Great song in any case, listen to it if you haven't .