Originally called Abraham, their lineup fell into place when the previous singer left, and Schmoekel, who was already friends with the band and a member of another local band, suddenly found himself in the group, which resulted in the name change. The quartet issued a demo in 1999, and one of the tracks, "Never, Never, Never," was played on local radio station WEJE.
A year later, Jettingham issued its full-length debut, Neato, which also proved popular on local radio, resulting in the band signing shortly thereafter to the Republic/Universal label. Just before the release of their label self-titled debut in September of 2001, the quartet received another career boost when their song "Cheating" was featured on the soundtrack to the hit movie American Pie 2.
Ordinary
Jettingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If everyone would find a way to see the brighter side
And you cant seem to find a way to make your life less ordinary
Because you're stuck doing the same thing every day
You dont know, and it's hard to see
Still I know that
There must be something better than this
If you look inside and try, try to find some peace of mind
You may find a better way
This world can be so cold when you cant even
Find your place
And everyone around you seems to know you're tired of waiting.
You dont know, and it's hard to see
Still I know that
There must be something better than this
There's got to be some other way
If you look inside and try, try to find some peace of mind
You may find, a better way
You may find, a better way
There must be something better than this
There's got to be some other way
There must be something better than this
There's got to be some other way
There must be something better than this
There's got to be some other way
In "Ordinary," Jettingham tackles the challenge of feeling stuck in life and searching for a way out. The lyrics open with an invitation to imagine a world where everyone sees the brighter side of life, hinting at a desire to break away from the mundanity of everyday existence. The chorus repeats the assertion that there must be something better than this, a mantra that echoes the desperation behind the search for a better way. The lyrics acknowledge that it can be hard to see the way forward, but urge the listener to look inside and try to find some peace of mind.
The second verse focuses more on the internal struggle of feeling lost and adrift. It acknowledges the way that the world can feel lonely and isolating when you can't seem to find your place. But the message remains the same: there must be something better out there, there must be some other way. The repetition of this line serves to emphasize the urgency of the search for meaning and purpose.
Overall, "Ordinary" is a hopeful anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped or unfulfilled by their situation. It acknowledges the difficulty of feeling stuck, but encourages the listener to keep searching for a better way.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you imagine what this world could be like
Asking the listener to envision a world where people see the brighter side
If everyone would find a way to see the brighter side
Highlighting the importance of having a positive outlook in life
And you cant seem to find a way to make your life less ordinary
Acknowledging the struggle of feeling stuck in a monotonous routine
Because you're stuck doing the same thing every day
Explaining why it can be difficult to break out of one's ordinary life
You dont know, and it's hard to see
Recognizing the challenge of finding a better way forward
Still I know that
Asserting the belief that there must be a better way
There must be something better than this
Reiterating the hope for a better life
There's got to be some other way
Expressing the need for alternatives to the current situation
If you look inside and try, try to find some peace of mind
Encouraging introspection and effort in seeking inner peace
You may find a better way
Offering the possibility of discovering a more fulfilling life
This world can be so cold when you cant even
Describing the harshness of life when feeling lost
Find your place
Acknowledging the challenge of discovering one's purpose
And everyone around you seems to know you're tired of waiting.
Highlighting the feeling of being stuck while others seem to have moved forward
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.