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William Shatner — Common People
Album: Has Been
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3797









Released: 2004
Length: 4:32
Plays (last 30 days): 1
She came from Greece,
She had a thirst for knowledge.
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College.
That's where I caught her eye.

She told me that her Dad was loaded.
I said, in that case I'll have a rum and coca-cola.
She said fine, and in thirty seconds time she said,

I want to live like common people.
I want to do whatever common people do.
I want to sleep with common people.
I want to sleep with common people, like you.

Well, what else could I do?
I said, I'll see what I can do.

I took her to a supermarket.
I don't know why, but I had to
Start it somewhere, so it started there.

I said, pretend you've got no money.
She just laughed, and said
Oh you're so funny. I said, yeah?
Well, I can't see anyone else smiling in here.

Are you sure you want to live like common people?
You want to see whatever common people see?
You want to sleep with common people?
You want to sleep with common people, like me?
But, she didn't understand,

(Jackson)
She just smiled and held my hand.

Rent a flat above a shop.
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.
When you're lying in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall,
If you called your Dad he could stop it all.
Yeah.

(Shatner)
You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do.
You'll never fail like common people.
You'll never watch your life slide out of view,
And dance and drink and screw

(Jackson and Shatner)
Because there's nothing else to do.

(Shatner and Chorus)
Sing along with the common people.
Sing along, and it might just get you thru.'

(Chorus)
Laugh along with the common people.

(Shatner and Chorus)
Laugh along, even though they're laughing at you

(Shatner)
And the stupid things that you do
'cause you think that poor is cool.

(Jackson)
Like a dog lying in a corner,
They'll bite you and never warn you.
Look out.

(Shatner)
They'll tear your insides out
'cause everybody hates a tourist.

(Jackson)
'Cause Everybody hates a tourist,
Especially one who thinks
It's all such a laugh.

(Shatner)
Yeah, and the chip stains' grease
Will come out in the bath.

(Shatner and Jackson)
You will never understand
How it feels to live your life
With no meaning or control
And with nowhere left to go.

You're amazed that they exist
And they burn so bright,
While you can only wonder why.

Rent a flat above a shop.
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.
'Cause When you're lying in bed at night

(Shatner)
Watching roaches climb the wall,
If you called your Dad he could stop it all.
Yeah.

You'll never live like common people

(Shatner and Jackson)
You'll never do what common people do.
You'll never fail like common people.
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do.

(Chorus)
I want to sing with common people, like you.
I want to sing with common people, like you.
I want to sing with common people, like you.
Comments (1479)add comment
The courage it took to do this...!

Common people are my people.
Love. Love. Love.
Cap'n Kirk showing how it should be done
 Koan wrote:
This is so terrible. I'd vote 0 if that was possible.
 
Shatner's delivery is awkwardly clunky; even as self-deprecation because of his famously parodied Star Trek line readings, it doesn't hit right. Pure cringe most of the way thru and then just kind of tolerable near the end.
 
Why does this get played sooo much more than the awesome original by Pulp?



satire
[ sat-ahyuhr ]See synonyms for satire on Thesaurus.com📙 Middle School Level
noun  the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, to expose, denounce, or deride the folly or corruption of institutions, people, or social structures:The success of the production stems from its balance of affectionate comedy and well-observed satire.



This whole album is great. Ben Folds is a genius! 
It's bizarre, but I love it.  The original is different, probably better, but this is just so OUT THERE!
This is so terrible. I'd vote 0 if that was possible.
 
Shatner's delivery is awkwardly clunky; even as self-deprecation because of his famously parodied Star Trek line readings, it doesn't hit right. Pure cringe most of the way thru and then just kind of tolerable near the end.
 
Why does this get played sooo much more than the awesome original by Pulp?
 
Madness1954 wrote:
 
 
I totally agree, the original is much better than this ersatz! And the whole "Modern world" album is great, one of the best during the 90's. Bill could you play it sometimes, please?
Where is 20 on that voting scale?
When this one comes around- I crank it up!
So.  Torn. It's brilliant, but is it ok to like something Shatner touched? <SIGH> It really is good.
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Better than the original if you ask me, though respect to Jarvis and crew
Another Bill who can do no wrong ! 
Yay CanCon!
Bloody Brilliant! a 9
sucko barfo.
If this isn't "Godlike," then the word has no meaning.
this is the first time I heard this and...not sure what to think! The juxtaposition of Shakespearean Shatner's voice with punk rock was strangely sublime. Sadly, the lyrics are still very contemporary. 

Laughing and singing....

"I want to sing with common people, like you."

Thank you, Ben Folds!!! This entire album is amazing. There is a song with lyrics by WS about him finding his wife dead in the swimming pool. Some intense material, for sure, expertly produced by BF!
Glorious. 
 Madness1954 wrote:
Why aren't you playing the original Pulp version, which is a classic song and so much better?
 
The Pulp version is worse... it's ruins a good song with those annoying klaxon sounds that just create a piercing wall of noise.  I used to turn that off whenever it came on.  Shatner is bad but in a good way.
 twp wrote:

Honestly, I can't stand Shatner. He's not only a dreadful actor and a worse singer, he's a pompous egomaniac neoconservative asshole who is despised by everyone he's ever worked with, and for good reason.

... and I love this song. Just love it. Easy 9 for me. I put it up to the genius of Ben Folds for figuring out that Shat's flat spoken-word delivery complements perfectly Joe Jackson's postpunk screaming. This came out better than the original by a long mile.

Fuck you, Bill Shatner. Fuck you for making something that I can't live without. God damn it, Bill.



THANK YOU for this comment! :-)
I just love this one.

Forget about what should be the norm in music, forget about Shatner's personality, forget about how people should approach when doing covers - just dive in and enjoy the quirkiness of this piece. 

(pretend you've never heard the original)

I gave it a 9 just because it's o much fun (I'd give it a 10 but OK I'll restrain myself - but if I had 2 or 3 beers this would be a 10).

Woooooo! Go Shatner!
Oh, this is terrible. Why aren't you playing the original Pulp version, which is a classic song and so much better?
Honestly, I can't stand Shatner. He's not only a dreadful actor and a worse singer, he's a pompous egomaniac neoconservative asshole who is despised by everyone he's ever worked with, and for good reason.

... and I love this song. Just love it. Easy 9 for me. I put it up to the genius of Ben Folds for figuring out that Shat's flat spoken-word delivery complements perfectly Joe Jackson's postpunk screaming. This came out better than the original by a long mile.

Fuck you, Bill Shatner. Fuck you for making something that I can't live without. God damn it, Bill.
WTF just happened?
what did Nimoy make of this?
Great goof.  Well done Captain Kirk!  Strange new worlds indeed.
Beam him up Scotty...
You really haven't played this on Main in over a year?!
 fredriley wrote:
I'll take yer man Shatner's version over Blur's any day of the week, if only so's I don't have to hear Damon Albarn's irritating Sahf Lahndan accent, plus I can actually hear (and agree with) the lyrics. This is so tongue in cheek. It brings 'serious' songs down to ground getting the Shatner treatment. Phasers to stun, cap'n! 8 from the Nottingham jury.
 
Lol, It was a Pulp hit, Jarvis Cocker is from Sheffield and sounds like a real Yorkshireman. You're just down the road and must live in a rough part of Nottingham if you think he sounded like a southerner.
This song is such an experience.I know it's blasphemy but, to me, it's better than the original.
Listen to the words of an ace Shakespearean actor (who knew he could sing?) enunciating an anthem for we common people!
I'm glad the word "fags" has run its course, but it would be nice if we go back to the original meaning! 
bumped from 8 to 9 . . . . just keeps sounding better
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/10/common-people-pulp-cocker-greek-girl
 jmsmy wrote:
now those are great lyrics - nickleback
 
They are quite good lyrics- good narrative, but I'm not sure what Nickelback has to do with it.
Awesome song!  The whole album is full of gems like this!
I was hoping this was is RP's collection - and there it is! A solid 10 from me.
That was EPIC!
 casey1024 wrote:
This song.  Better every time I hear it. 
stalfnzo wrote:

Couldn't agree more.

 

I also couldn't agree more....the Shat makes me laugh so much, yet there's a definite artistic quality to his "singing" that I find I want to hear this track (and a few others) more often than not...still leaving my rating at 8....maybe one day I'll go 8→9....

Long Live RP!!

now those are great lyrics - nickleback
 casey1024 wrote:
This song.  Better every time I hear it. 
 
Couldn't agree more.
This song.  Better every time I hear it. 
wtf? 8
The best version of this song

I'd never listened to it before this version.

Very astute lyrics.
 david@darluthier.com wrote:
I’d love to know what Jarvis Cocker thought of this... 

 
In 2011, Jarvis Cocker praised the cover version: "I was very flattered by that because I was a massive Star Trek fan as a kid and so you know, Captain Kirk is singing my song! So that was amazing."
I’d love to know what Jarvis Cocker thought of this... 
Doing accounting late on a Saturday night, listening to RP and this made me stop and see what the heck it really was. Truly strange. But I like it. 
Heard the non-Shatner version of this on local radio yesterday. Much prefer this beauty!
I hated this when I first heard it, now I nearly fall down laughing. It's so fabulous! {#War}
Fucking tell it.
Trump song
I get such a kick out of the entire album. 
 Hannio wrote:
This would have been better without Joe Jackson yelling at us.

  I think Joe Jackson's yelling makes it better. Adds a level of angry desperation?

No argument this is pretty weird, but somehow I like it.


ok...now I'm happy :)
Sorry, but this is illogical
 ambrebalte wrote:
It's been a long while since the last time I've danced in your hotel room Lazarus Romeo, it's a pleasure to meet you again.
 
Everybody in my hotel room is so happy to see you, ambrebalte!  We love this marvelous song...  we be dancing like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  love Radio Paradise...
 davidm995 wrote:
Denny Crane

 
DONNY CRANE !
DENNY CRANE !
Denny Crane
Captain Kirk is climbing a mountain, climbing a mountain, climbing a mountain
Captain Kirk is climbing a mountain
Why?
Because he loves that mountain.
He wants to make love....to the mountain.
I am amazed that I like this.  Something different I guess.
A perfect combination of high-frequency Joe and mid range Bill sneering at clueless people (us). God I love love love this.

The stupid things that you do, cause you think that poor is cool
 Hannio wrote:
This would have been better without Joe Jackson yelling at us.
 
I disagree completely. I think JJ’s vocal adds a sense of urgency and a healthy juxtaposition. This weird remake just works for me.
"Are you sure...."  Classic Shatner.  I just love it.
This would have been better without Joe Jackson yelling at us.
Yeah,  I don't get it!
Blah.  Sorry, PSD here.
Ready-made for Shatner, with a little help from his friends. Amazing time and time again. If you don't get it... you don't get it. 
 Lazarus wrote: 
It's been a long while since the last time I've danced in your hotel room Lazarus Romeo, it's a pleasure to meet you again.
terrible is relative but, kind of it is but it's so Iconic
 ghoffman wrote:
This is terrible!  PSD to the rescue!

 
Correction, this IS PSD to the rescue.
This is terrible!  PSD to the rescue!
Love this song.
William Shatner would be happy that his "music" still brings a big smile of a time and an artist's willingness to have have fun!
A ditty with true warp drive. 
 
 TomSweetwater wrote:
Shatner is my prototypical artist, he owns every medium he tries and gives absolutely zero shits what you think of his work. See, to people like him, art's about getting something out of your soul, the journey is finding your voice, some never find it but that doesn't hamper their love of searching. Some go crazy trying to get people to "get it" and then we have those few sage, enlightened souls who give us art so pure and wonderful that none can deny it's merit.

KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!! 

Live, love and stay Wild my friends  

 
Masterful
It was Mr. Shatner's Birthday yesterday.  86 years young.
Beam me up, Scotty!
 tee_dee wrote:
Ben Folds and Joe Jackson send this over the top for me!

 
And The Shat!
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!

{#Bananajam}
Secret Machines, Shatner.  I see what you did there.
Shatner is my prototypical artist, he owns every medium he tries and gives absolutely zero shits what you think of his work. See, to people like him, art's about getting something out of your soul, the journey is finding your voice, some never find it but that doesn't hamper their love of searching. Some go crazy trying to get people to "get it" and then we have those few sage, enlightened souls who give us art so pure and wonderful that none can deny it's merit.

KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!! 

Live, love and stay Wild my friends  
Bill Shatner. The worlds greatest actor.
My brother gave this album to me as a joke.  He is a total Treckie and so it is thematic to his obsession.  I listened to it and was pleasantly surprised.  Of course with all Shatner stuff, you have to recognize he is continually poking fun of himself in an ironic way.  He's an interesting person.  He has a very strong sense of reality.  Thanks for playing this, this definitely reinforces to me that you guys are super eclectic and open-minded. 
Never liked the other Shatner recordings played here, but this works. Excellent. 
Shatner at his best. The good captain has been with me all my life. Don't know what I'll do when he joins Spock and McCoy past the Great Barrier.
this has it all, funny, great beat, and...a sing-along! love it.
I must have said this while I was up in the ethers waiting to be born.....this is my life....so funny! I hate living like common people!! LOVE THIS SONG!
Surprisingly don't see a mention of this ... but if you like Shatner's spoken word, you must catch his rendition of Sarah Palin as beat poetry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_t1A8LGzg.  Genius ... perhaps with the help of some of Conan's writers ...
 evansdad wrote:

Agree...don't know why it's so catchy. Maybe because it’s kitschy… 

 
Yeah, it's kitschy, but it's got a lot of fun, frenetic energy too.  The production is great and given the content of the lyrics, Shatner's delivery seems much more convincing and angry than the original.
Shatner's best work by far!
Ben Folds and Joe Jackson send this over the top for me!
 idiot_wind wrote:
has there been anybody else who has had more fun with life?  This guys always has a smile and chuckles. And he keeps goofing. 

Good for him. 

 
William Shatner has had his share of tragedy too.  His wife died in a pool accident and he was accused of killing her.
has there been anybody else who has had more fun with life?  This guys always has a smile and chuckles. And he keeps goofing. 

Good for him. 
 moonridge2001 wrote:
Oddly addictive..
So damn weird... 

 
Agree...don't know why it's so catchy. Maybe because it’s kitschy… 
Absolutely love this song sequence. Brilliant. Bumping to 9.
This whole album is surprisingly good, but this is definitely the pinnacle. Thanks, Shat, for learning not to take yourself so seriously. Embrace your weird.
He went where no man has gone before, and it was horrific. Solid 1.
Captain Kirk is laughin' all the way to the bank.
Okay...you guys win for most brilliant, eclectic radio since...well, 1970 and prior. Would NEVER expect to hear this song played anywhere. Shatner is just so gol danged freakishly weird. He kind of gives Zappa a run for his money! Well done, RP.  YOU TRULY ROCK! 
YES! I am REALLY digging this today! {#Bananasplit}
It still gets a 9 from the West London judge!
Brilliant!  
Excellent cover, really interesting treatment, love the attempted restrained tension in Shatner's delivery
 Sasha2001 wrote:

It's called hip hop music. Rap is the name for the style of vocalization. If you're going to burn down an entire genre of music you should at least know what what it's called.
 
Who cares really :)
Incredibly better than the original, kudos William Shatner \m/
 msymmes wrote:
Better than any rap music I have heard !!   (And I use the term music mistakenly when it comes to rap).
 

 
It's called hip hop music. Rap is the name for the style of vocalization. If you're going to burn down an entire genre of music you should at least know what what it's called.
Better than the original.

Ben folds and joe Jackson should get more credit for a fantastic arrangement. 
first time i've heard this. kept thinking of johnny cash til it clicked what the song was and who was singing. a great re-imagining of the original (but then i never really liked pulp) told with punk energy and flair.
Oddly addictive..
So damn weird... 
To be covered by William Shatner is an even higher accolade, I believe, than getting the Yankovic treatment...
Better than any rap music I have heard !!   (And I use the term music mistakenly when it comes to rap).
 
No comparison to the original 
Okay, I bucked this one up from 3 to 5. It kind of works with Shat's spoken song approach.