[Verse 1]
There once was a man
With a dream in his heart
With a dream just the same as you
There once was a man
With a gleam in his eye
But a gleam in your eye given time will die
If the dream that you dreamt
Is a dream that you can’t pursue

[Verse 2]
People like us don’t join the clubs
Jump the queues
Get served in pubs
People like us must learn where we fit in
People are decent, true enough
Decent ‘til you call their bluff
For people can’t see beyond one mortal sin
The color of your skin

[Verse 3]
Basic freedoms, basic rights
Yes, it’s true, we have these prizes in our sights
In this England, in these times
Many acts which once were common now are crimes
And strong or weak
All men are equal
Clearly, oh, well
Nearly
[Verse 4]
People like us can serve in shops
Varnish nails, wipe tabletops
People like us are free to muddle through
(oh, oh, oh, oh)
People will tell you you’ll succeed
Brains or brawn are all you need
People like us are only free to do
What they allow us to

[Verse 5]
There once wa a man
With a gleam in his eye
But the gleam disappeared
And the dream ran dry
‘Cause people like us don’t fit the bill
Don’t run the world and never will
But then it was ever thus
For people like us
For people like us