The New Zealand rock band have released three albums - 2004's platinum selling 'You Are Here', 2007's multi-platinum selling 'Second Hand Planet', and 2010's 'Until The End Of Time'.
Opshop were winners of the coveted 'Peoples Choice Award' at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards. Also in 2007 their single “Maybe” achieved the honour of being the biggest song at New Zealand radio ever, holding the #1 most-played spot for 12 consecutive weeks.
Opshop describe their sound like this: "An equal opportunistic grab bag of semi-funkster pop and crackle 'muesli' rock. We like playing music that sounds nice and loud. And dirty and quiet and every nook 'n' cranny in between. If you're not sure what it is. Its likely to be ours".
No Ordinary Thing
Opshop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was that the reason you were looking back?
So I'm trusting in existence
I'm thrusting on momentum.
I don't want to see these threads of love collide not ever again
No, not ever again…no.
I know it's not working.
and our worlds will be worth more than living once in this lifetime.
If we could liberate today, we could alleviate tomorrow,
But no one can reach the light switch they say
‘No', that's what they say…
No my love, this is no ordinary thing
My love, my love, my love
This is no ordinary thing
No, this is no ordinary thing
I'm naked, I'm naked in this afterlife
I was falling, I was falling from the greatest highs
If everything, if everything should come to pass
Tell me, when are you coming home to stay?
When are you coming home to stay again?
To stay again.
‘Cause my love
This is no ordinary thing my love
My love, my love
This is no ordinary thing
No, no ordinary thing
We were compromised by our own hearts
Jealous seas couldn't keep us apart
I wanted to touch you but we stop when we start
I wanted to hold you, hold you
But here we are…
Here we are.
This is no ordinary thing my love
No, this was no ordinary thing
This is no ordinary thing my love
This was no ordinary thing.
The lyrics of Opshop's song No Ordinary Thing tell the story of a relationship that has been through its ups and downs, but ultimately is not an ordinary thing. The first verse questions the reasons behind looking back and the fear of the threads of love colliding again. The second verse acknowledges that things have not been working, but hopes that knowledge will bring comfort and that liberation today can alleviate tomorrow. The chorus repeats the sentiment that this love is not ordinary and that it is something special that needs to be cherished.
The bridge of the song is particularly poignant, with the singer admitting to being naked and vulnerable in the afterlife and falling from the greatest highs. He is waiting for his love to come home and stay with him again. The final verse speaks about the compromises made in the relationship and how they have been kept apart by jealousy, but the singer still longs to hold his love. The song ends with the repeated refrain that their love is not ordinary, that it is something rare and precious.
Line by Line Meaning
Was this to show you I would not fail you?
Did I do this to prove to you that I would not disappoint or let you down?
Was that the reason you were looking back?
Were you searching for proof that I would not fail you?
So I'm trusting in existence
I have faith in life and everything that happens around me.
I'm thrusting on momentum.
I'm relying on the force that propels me rather than my own power.
I don't want to see these threads of love collide not ever again
I don't want to experience the clashing or destruction of affection between us again.
No, not ever again…no.
Not ever again, I don't want that to happen.
I know it's not working.
I'm aware that what we have now is not functioning properly.
Knowledge will capture comfort one day,
Understanding and awareness will eventually bring solace and ease.
and our worlds will be worth more than living once in this lifetime.
Our lives will be more valuable than just existing for a brief period.
If we could liberate today, we could alleviate tomorrow,
If we could free ourselves from our problems now, we could reduce our struggles in the future.
But no one can reach the light switch they say
Some people claim that it's impossible to turn on the light or find a resolution.
‘No', that's what they say…
They say 'no' to the possibility of finding a solution.
No my love, this is no ordinary thing
Darling, what we have is special and extraordinary.
I'm naked, I'm naked in this afterlife
I'm vulnerable and exposed in this existence beyond death.
I was falling, I was falling from the greatest highs
I experienced a significant and thrilling decline from an emotionally high point.
If everything, if everything should come to pass
If everything in the world were to happen.
Tell me, when are you coming home to stay?
Please let me know, when are you going to return and stay with me for good?
‘Cause my love
Because I love you so much,
This is no ordinary thing my love
What we have is unique and remarkable.
We were compromised by our own hearts
Our emotions and desires put us in a vulnerable position.
Jealous seas couldn't keep us apart
Even an immense distance or jealousy cannot split us up.
I wanted to touch you but we stop when we start
I desire to touch you but we always stop when we begin to act on our feelings.
I wanted to hold you, hold you
I wanted to embrace and keep you close to me.
But here we are…
But we are still here with each other.
This is no ordinary thing my love
This is something special and unordinary, my love.
This was no ordinary thing.
What we have is not just any ordinary relationship.
Contributed by Gavin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.