Harmful were an Alternative Rock / Indie band from Frankfurt am Main / Germ… Read Full Bio ↴Harmful were an Alternative Rock / Indie band from Frankfurt am Main / Germany. They were frequently likened to early Helmet and occasionally to Blackmail

Harmful was originally a trio, founded in 1992 by members Aren Emirze, Chris Aidonopoulos and Nico Heimann. Their 2007 album 7 was produced by former Faith No More bassist and record producer Billy Gould who subsequently joined the band as a fourth member.

Album discography:
* 1995: Harmful (BluNoise)
* 1997: Apoplexy.136 (BluNoise)
* 2000: Counterbalance (Firestarter/BMG)
* 2001: Wromantic (Firestarter/BMG)
* 2003: Sanguine (Steamhammer/SPV)
* 2005: Sis Masis (Nois-o-Lution)
* 2007: 7 (Nois-o-Lution)
* 2010: Cause (PIAS)

Ordinary People
Harmful Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Down memory lane
I was caught in a violent dream
And It was mine.
Wake up butterfly
They've got a spy for every single lie in your eyes
I woke up
Lying somewhere
Thought I had landed.

For a while I didn't care
Just lay still
Waiting for someone
Ordinary people
Chasing me from town to town
Only for some time
I tried to break out
But all I could do
Was going round and round and round
I've done some things
I want to forget
Purify myself
Put me on a modest shelf
Oh, I feel bitter now
Misunderstood and still on the other side
Oh I look sick somehow
My classic excuse
Should be in stone by now
I made them smile
Helped them survive
Kind of satisfied
I do what I always liked
Just lay still
Waiting for someone

Ordinary people
Chasing me from town to town

Overall Meaning

In "Ordinary People," Harmful sings of a traumatic past that he is trying to leave behind. He describes being caught in a violent dream and waking up to find himself lying somewhere he didn't recognize. Despite wanting to forget the things he has done, he feels bitter and misunderstood, as if he is still on the other side. He reflects on his past actions and how he has helped others to survive, but states that he is still being chased by ordinary people from town to town.

The lyrics suggest a feeling of being trapped in one's own life, unable to escape the consequences of past actions. There is a sense of restlessness and desperation, as if the singer is constantly being pursued and unable to find peace. The line "I tried to break out / But all I could do / Was going round and round and round" emphasizes this feeling of being stuck in a cycle of self-destructive behavior.

Line by Line Meaning

Down memory lane
Recalling my past experiences

I was caught in a violent dream
I was trapped in a terrible situation

And It was mine.
And I was responsible for it

Wake up butterfly
Realize your true potential

They've got a spy for every single lie in your eyes
People are always trying to find out the truth about you

I woke up
I became aware of my surroundings

Lying somewhere
In a state of confusion

Thought I had landed.
Thought I had achieved something significant

For a while I didn't care
For a brief moment, I was apathetic

Just lay still
Stay still and wait

Waiting for someone
Anticipating someone's arrival