(For the) Common People
Follow the story and struggle for democracy, from Ancient Greece right up to modern day. Something for the common people?
PARODY OF
Common People by Pulp
MUSIC BY
Richie Webb
FROM
Series 8 Episode 8 (Putrid Politics)
LYRICS:
It came from Greece; we were the first to acknowledge
The idea of a democratic college, oh yeah.
So it started there.
Before that we were all just ruled by royals
They thought that common folk should just be loyal, oh yeah.
(Well we weren’t having that anymore)
So we tried
The first system for the common people
No longer treat them like a bunch of sheeple
Each law voted for by the people
Democracy meant they got to keep all the power
But only if they qualify –
Slaves, women and foreigners need not apply. Mm.
You’re meant to join in if you like it or not
If you refuse, we call you an ‘idiot’, oh yeah.
That word came from there…
Romans were less rude and we thought it better
To have a Senate and appoint Senators to implement
The laws of government.
This sort of meant that for the common bloke
Democracy became a bit of a joke
Power was just held by a load of rich geezers
Till the Republic was ended by Ceasar -
Thought I’d give being a dictator a crack
But then they stabbed me in the ba-a-a-a-ack.
Civil War was aimed to bring a chance to restrain the King
Still the people were ignored, power stayed with King and Lord.
Cromwell’s Roundheaded intent? Restrain the King with Parliament -
Ended when I lost my head – I won, but then we got Charles the Second instead!
Still we tried to stand up for choice
Make Parliament hear the people’s voice
But it was hard to get that message through
Nothing changed till 1832.
But there’s one thing to note
The working class and women still can’t vote.
For common worker’s the fight’s not done
Until the end of World War One
Votes for women thanks to Suffragettes
And no-one’s found a better system yet.
As Churchill said to our great-grandmothers –
Democracy’s worst… apart from all the others.