Ordinary Man
Drew McConnell's Helsinki Lyrics
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Its a long way out, a short way in
For all the sad young men
With a taste for irony, and the offshore piracy
Oh benediction, we were slammed
By the beautiful and damned
By the beautiful and damned
I may bend, I may bite
I may buckle in the night
Slow my hand, because I am
Just an ordinary man
Slow my hand, because I am
Just an ordinary man
Holding on, because things will get easier
If I sing this song when I'm delirious
For a day on a throne, he resolved to walk alone
So he ploughed a field of sound
Until his blood spilt on the ground
So he ploughed a field of sound
Until his blood spilt on the ground
And the tales he was told,
made his blood run hot then cold
Winter dreams, jelly beans
The camel's back and majesty
Winter dreams, jelly beans
The camel's back and majesty
Holding on, because things will get easier
If I sing this song when I'm delirious
Oh brother keep holding on
'cause things will get easier
If you sing this song when you're delirious
Oh russet witch, Mr Ick,
keep them coming fast and thick
The freshest boy, a perfect life
And tender is the night
The freshest boy, a perfect life
And tender is the night
Now I won't bend, I won't bite
I won't buckle in the night
Slow my hand, because I am
Just an ordinary man
Slow my hand, because I am
Just an ordinary man
Holding on, because things will get easier
If I sing this song when I'm delirious
Oh brother keep holding on
'cause things will get easier
If you sing this song when you're delirious
When you're delirious
Delirious
The song "Ordinary Man" by Drew McConnell's Helsinki, shares the story of an individual that has come to terms with being just an ordinary man. In the first verse, the lyrics describe a beautiful and decadent place where sad young men with a taste for irony and offshore piracy roam. The singer acknowledges being slammed by the beautiful and damned, highlighting how often people are brought down by beauty and opulence. The chorus emphasizes the singer's fragility, stating that he may bend, bite and buckle in the night, but that he is just an ordinary man, taking life one day at a time.
The second verse speaks of a man who decides to walk alone, plowing a field of sound until his blood spilt on the ground, signifying the cost of what he has created. The tales he was told made his blood run hot then cold, symbolizing the way stories can affect us. The chorus repeats, offering reassurance to the singer and the listener that if they keep holding on, things will get easier if they sing this song when they're delirious. The final verse references Russet Witch and Mr. Ick, asking them to "keep them coming fast and thick," perhaps referring to the desire for more experiences in life. The freshest boy and tender is the night imply the beauty and fragility of youth, and the singer finally declares that he won't bend, bite or buckle in the night, reminding everyone that he is just an ordinary man and urging others to slow their hand, take things one day at a time, and hold on.
Line by Line Meaning
In a palace of ice, this side of paradise
Despite being in a beautiful place, it still feels far from perfect
It's a long way out, a short way in
It's easy to get in but difficult to get out of some situations
For all the sad young men
This song is for all the men who feel lost or hopeless
With a taste for irony, and the offshore piracy
These men have a sarcastic sense of humor and aren't afraid to break the rules
Oh benediction, we were slammed
These men have been hit hard by something unexpected
By the beautiful and damned
They've been hurt by people who seem perfect on the outside but flawed on the inside
I may bend, I may bite
Sometimes I'm not strong enough to deal with everything that comes my way
I may buckle in the night
I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I'm alone in the dark
Slow my hand, because I am Just an ordinary man
I'm not superhuman and sometimes I need to slow down and ask for help
Holding on, because things will get easier If I sing this song when I'm delirious
I'm holding on to hope and believing that things will improve, even when it feels impossible
For a day on a throne, he resolved to walk alone So he ploughed a field of sound Until his blood spilt on the ground
There was a king who decided to be independent, but it cost him his life and his blood was shed
And the tales he was told, made his blood run hot then cold Winter dreams, jelly beans The camel's back and majesty
The stories he heard made him feel excited and then scared, but life has a mix of good and bad experiences
Oh brother keep holding on 'cause things will get easier If you sing this song when you're delirious
The singer is encouraging his brother (or anyone listening) to hold on to hope and sing this song when life feels overwhelming
Oh russet witch, Mr Ick, keep them coming fast and thick The freshest boy, a perfect life And tender is the night
These are people who are living well and enjoying life, maybe even at the expense of others
Now I won't bend, I won't bite I won't buckle in the night Slow my hand, because I am Just an ordinary man
I've decided to be strong and face my challenges head-on without giving up or breaking down
Delirious
This word repeats throughout the song as a reminder to keep singing through the tough times and not let despair take over
Contributed by Madelyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.