Ordinary Man
Christy Moore Lyrics

I'm an ordinary man, nothing special nothing grand
The singer considers himself to be just an average person, without any remarkable qualities.

I've had to work for everything I own
The singer has not had an easy life and has had to work hard to earn everything that he has.

I never asked for a lot, I was happy with what I got Enough to keep my family and my home
The singer is content with the simple life he has built for himself, and doesn't ask for much more than he needs to provide for his family and maintain his home.

Now they say that times are hard and they've handed me my cards They say there's not the work to go around And when the whistle blows, the gates will finally close Tonight they're going to shut this factory down Then they'll tear it d-o-w-n
The artist's workplace is shutting down, causing him to lose his job and the factory to be destroyed.

I never missed a day nor went on strike for better pay For twenty years I served them best I could Now with a handshake and a cheque, it seems so easy to forget Loyalty through the bad times and through good
Despite his long years of service, the company doesn't seem to value his loyalty, and it's easy for them to let him go with just a simple handshake and severance pay.

The owner says he's sad to see that things have got so bad But the captains of industry won't let him lose He still drives a car and smokes his cigar And still he takes his family on a cruise, he'll never lose
The company owner may claim to feel bad about the layoffs, but the singer thinks he'll never truly suffer or lose out, as he still leads a luxurious life.

Well, it seems to me such a cruel irony He's richer now than he ever was before Now my cheque is spent and I can't afford the rent There's one law for the rich, one for the poor
The singer is struggling to make ends meet after losing his job, while the company owner is wealthier than ever, highlighting the growing divide between the rich and the poor.

Every day I've tried to salvage some of my pride To find some work so's I might pay my way Oh but everywhere I go, the answer's always no There's no work for anyone here today, no work today
The artist is desperately trying to find work to support his family and feel some sense of pride, but is constantly turned away as there are no jobs available.

And so condemned I stand just an ordinary man Like thousands beside me in the queue I watch my darling wife trying to make the best of life And God knows what the kids are going to do
The artist is one of many who are struggling to make ends meet and support their families in a difficult economic climate.

Now that we are faced with this human waste A generation cast aside And as long as I live, I never will forgive You've stripped me of my dignity and pride, you've stripped me bare You've stripped me bare, You've stripped me bare
The artist is disgusted with how society is treating him and others like him, feeling that they are being cast aside and robbed of their dignity and self-respect.