Ordinary Man
Fool’s Garden Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who you gonna be?
The owner of the moon
A soon forgotten hero with a never fading bloom
Who you wanna be?
When you realize you're failing all the time
Who you wanna be?

Where do you wanna go?

When you leave your past behind
When you move yourself in circles
When there's nothing left to find
Where do you wanna go?
When you feel there's nothing left for you to do

Who you wanna be?
In a world of sad and loneliness
Who you wanna be?
You're full of all the emptiness
Who you wanna be?
When the moon is on the wane

An ordinary man got a ticket to the life to come
You will attain the land a day
Hey man, what you wanna take along
Don't you know the price you pay

For your greedy thoughts, your pretty Gods
You give yourself away
Who you wanna be?
Where you wanna go?

Mr. Mirror don't tell me what you see
I'm a content man in a modern world
That's all I want to be
So why should I go to a place I never wanted to belong

I don't wanna be in a world of sad and loneliness
I don't wanna be the fool of all the emptiness
I don't wanna be no shadow in the rain
An ordinary man, man, yeah

Who you wanna be?
In a world of sad and loneliness
Who you wanna be?
When you're full of all the emptiness
Who you wanna be?

When the moon is on the wane
A ordinary man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fool’s Garden's song Ordinary Man reflect on the aspirations of an ordinary man and his existential contemplations. The song starts with a series of questions that urge the listener to reflect on their goals and ambitions, asking who they want to be, where they want to go, and what they want to achieve. The lyrics also suggest that the concept of success is a fleeting one because the heroes one can aspire to become are only appreciated for a short period of time. The lyrics question the worth of chasing achievements that fade away shortly after attaining them.

The second verse of the song shifts to a more philosophical mode of questioning, asking the listener where they want to go when they leave their past behind and are left with only emptiness. The lyrics query whether such a state is inevitable, given the transient nature of all achievements. The line, "Don't you know the price you pay for your greedy thoughts, your pretty Gods, you give yourself away" alludes to the idea that chasing material wealth and possessions may ultimately prove to be meaningless pursuits.

In conclusion, the song explores the concept of existentialism and the difficulty of finding meaning in a transient world where achievements and possessions are fleeting.

Line by Line Meaning

Who you gonna be?
What is your ultimate goal in life? What kind of person do you want to become?

The owner of the moon
Do you aspire to achieve something impossible or unattainable, like owning the moon?

A soon forgotten hero with a never fading bloom
Do you want to become a hero who is remembered forever, or are you content to be a hero who is eventually forgotten, but whose impact never fades away?

Where do you wanna go?
What do you want to achieve or experience in life?

When you leave your past behind
Are you ready to move on from your past and start a new chapter in your life?

When you move yourself in circles
Do you feel stuck in a routine or cycle and want to break free from it?

When there's nothing left to find
Have you achieved everything you wanted in life and feel like there is nothing left to strive for?

When you feel there's nothing left for you to do
Are you bored or unsatisfied with your current situation and want to find a new purpose?

In a world of sad and loneliness
Do you feel isolated or depressed in today's society?

You're full of all the emptiness
Do you feel unfulfilled, like something is missing in your life?

When the moon is on the wane
When things are going wrong or you're feeling down or hopeless, what do you want to do?

An ordinary man got a ticket to the life to come
Even though you might be an average person, you still have the opportunity to achieve your dreams and reach your potential.

You will attain the land a day
If you work hard and persevere, there will come a day when you achieve your goals and reach success.

Hey man, what you wanna take along
What do you want to bring with you on your journey in life? What material possessions or personal values are important to you?

Don't you know the price you pay
Everything comes with a cost, whether it's financial, emotional, or personal. Are you willing to pay the price for what you want in life?

Your pretty Gods, you give yourself away
Are you sacrificing your own happiness and well-being for external factors or societal expectations?

Mr. Mirror don't tell me what you see
Don't let others define your self-worth or your image of yourself.

I'm a content man in a modern world
I am happy and satisfied with my life, even if it goes against societal norms or standards.

That's all I want to be
I don't need to strive for anything more than contentment and happiness in my life.

So why should I go to a place I never wanted to belong
I don't need to conform to societal expectations or fit into a mold that doesn't align with my personal beliefs or values.

I don't wanna be the fool of all the emptiness
I don't want to be consumed by the feeling of emptiness or unfulfillment in my life.

I don't wanna be no shadow in the rain
I don't want to be invisible or insignificant in life, I want to make my mark and have an impact.

An ordinary man, man, yeah
I might not be extraordinary or unique, but I am content being an average person who is happy in life.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER FREUDENTHALER, VOLKER HINKEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS