To me this sounds like the singer [Colin Hay I believe] is talking from the point of view of one of the 'undesirables' of society. The first verse he begs and then later he begs some more. He talks about the 'untouchables' and 'disrespectables' and the attitudes towards them, mainly ones of pitiful respect and a bit of hidden disgust, which is displayed by them turning away at the end.
To me this sounds like the singer [Colin Hay I believe] is talking from the point of view of one of the 'undesirables' of society. The first verse he begs and then later he begs some more. He talks about the 'untouchables' and 'disrespectables' and the attitudes towards them, mainly ones of pitiful respect and a bit of hidden disgust, which is displayed by them turning away at the end.