Ordinary Man
John Wesley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

How easily forgotten
how easily replaced
your loved ones become...
We are the wreckage strewn behind you
love's own casualties
from the battle that you won

You could not wait
to fly your flag
you could not wait
to raise the man in victory

I know you hate
to be mistaken
for the woman
of just an ordinary man...
To be the lover
of some ordinary man

I'm down on my knees
I'm crawling across the floor to you
I'm holding out my hand
God I do not understand
why I'm down on my knees

Now I'm troubled by your silence
I'm troubled that you no longer dare
to lay with me under the night stars
or walk unhindered on your own two legs

You could not wait
to lose your new freedom
You could not wait
to carry your new chains
I know you hate
to keep him waiting
so you'd better
drag yourself back to him again
Away from an ordinary man

I'm down on my knees
I'm crawling across the floor to you
I'm holding out my hand
God I do not understand
why I'm down on my knees
Down on my knees

I wanna feel alive
I wanna feel awake
I wanna feel anything and everything
to make these night stars go away
I wanna feel alive
I wanna feel awake
I wanna feel anything and everything
this world will let me taste

I wanna see you cry
I wanna see you break
I wanna see you crash into the walls
of your own infamy

Just an ordinary man

I wanna feel anything and
everything

I'm down on my knees
I'm crawling across the floor to you
I'm holding out my hand
God I do not understand
why I'm down on my knees
Down on my knees
Yes I'm down on my knees
I'm crawling across the floor to you
I'm holding out my hand
God I do not understand




why I'm down on my knees
Down on my knees

Overall Meaning

The song "Ordinary Man" by John Wesley is a deep reflection on love and the consequences of taking it for granted. The opening lines set the tone for the song by drawing attention to the reality that people often forget and replace their loved ones easily, leaving behind a trail of wreckage in the form of lost relationships. The lines "love's own casualties/ from the battle that you won" paint a picture of the aftermath of a failed relationship where the one who moved on quickly views the other as collateral damage, not realizing the impact their actions had on the other person.


The song's chorus reflects the longing of the singer to be more than just an ordinary man or woman. The lines "I know you hate to be mistaken for the woman of just an ordinary man/to be the lover of some ordinary man" signifies the singer's desire for their partner to see them as more than just an average person. However, despite this desire to be seen as special, the singer finds themselves on their knees, crawling towards their partner, trying to understand why they are in that position.


The second part of the song highlights the distance that has grown between the two lovers. The lines "troubled by your silence/ I'm troubled that you no longer dare to lay with me under the night stars" show that the spark that once existed has faded, and the partner is no longer interested in the simple pleasures they used to share. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's longing for something more than ordinary.


Line by Line Meaning

How easily forgotten
It's easy to forget about the people you used to love or care about


how easily replaced
It's easy to replace the people you used to love or care about with new ones


your loved ones become...
People that you used to love or care for become just a memory


We are the wreckage strewn behind you
These people you left behind are the ones who suffer from your choices


love's own casualties
They become victims of love and its consequences


from the battle that you won
They get hurt because they lost the fight for love


You could not wait
You were not patient enough


to fly your flag
To show off your victory


to raise the man in victory
To celebrate winning over someone else


I know you hate
I understand that you don't like


to be mistaken
to be thought of


for the woman
as someone


of just an ordinary man...
who is with an average person


To be the lover
To be in a romantic relationship


of some ordinary man
with someone who is not special or extraordinary


I'm down on my knees
I'm asking for forgiveness or begging for help


I'm crawling across the floor to you
I'm humbling myself before you


I'm holding out my hand
I am reaching out for aid or begging for forgiveness


God I do not understand
I am perplexed, confused and do not comprehend


why I'm down on my knees
Why am I in this situation


Now I'm troubled by your silence
Your quietness disturbs me


I'm troubled that you no longer dare
I'm concerned that you do not have the courage


to lay with me under the night stars
To share intimate moments with me under the sky


or walk unhindered on your own two legs
To go out and live your own life without anyone stopping you


You could not wait
You didn't have enough patience


to lose your new freedom
You were quick to give up your independence


to carry your new chains
To accept a new and perhaps unwanted relationship


I know you hate
I understand that you don't like


to keep him waiting
To make someone wait for you


so you'd better
you should


drag yourself back to him again
go back to the person you left behind


Away from an ordinary man
To distance oneself from someone who is not special or extraordinary


I wanna feel alive
I want to feel motivated and energized


I wanna feel awake
I want to feel aware of my surroundings and what's happening around me


I wanna feel anything and everything
I want to feel all kinds of emotions


to make these night stars go away
To make the darkness of the night disappear


this world will let me taste
To experience everything that life has to offer


I wanna see you cry
I want to see your vulnerable side


I wanna see you break
I want to see you at your weakest


I wanna see you crash into the walls
I want to witness you hit a roadblock that you can't go through or around


of your own infamy
Of the negative reputation you've developed


Just an ordinary man
Someone who is not particularly special or extraordinary


I wanna feel anything and
I want to experience anything and everything


everything
all types of emotions and scenarios


Yes I'm down on my knees
I am still begging or pleading


I'm crawling across the floor to you
I am humbling myself before you


I'm holding out my hand
I am reaching out for aid or begging for forgiveness


God I do not understand
I am perplexed, confused and do not comprehend


why I'm down on my knees
Why am I in this situation




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

UnFork Yours3lf

When he felt his heart warmed that's when he got the holy spirit 🙌

Glenn Pollock

Excellent documentary oh I pray the LORD would raise us men of GOD like Wesley again this Nation needs it so much .

Ruth Rock

Amen 🙏

Hoji

It will be women who raise faith and invite this next evolution of intimacy with God. I think it's very important to support that reconciliation in very simple and basic ways starting wstarting with the language we use.

grant smythe

@Deano Divers What's over?

Deano Divers

give up... pray those who would Fly with us soon. It's over

Jazz Notes

@Follower of The Way Amen 🙏🏻.

2 More Replies...

UnFork Yours3lf

He was filled with the holy spirit that's why he had such a impact

reba nelson

Thank you for a beautiful presentation of the life and work of a remarkable man. Beautiful!

Manjit Joseph

excellent presentation , beautiful photography ,videography and perfect editing with lovely hair raising music etc over all its a blessing to see and know about the Amazing human Sir John Wesely. Thank you so much for making this wonderful documentary. Thank you - from India, Mj

More Comments

More Versions