I’m an Ordinary Man
Rex Harrison Lyrics
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Who desires nothing more than just an ordinary chance
To live exactly as he likes and do precisely what he wants
An average man am I, of no eccentric whim
Who likes to live his life free of strife
Doing whatever he thinks is best for him
Well, just an ordinary man
And your serenity is through
She'll redecorate your home, from the cellar to the dome
And then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you
Let a woman in your life
And you're up against a wall
Make a plan and you will find she has something else in mind
And so rather than do either, you do something else that neither likes at all
You want to talk of Keats or Milton
She only wants to talk of love
You go to see a play or ballet
And spend it searching for her glove
Let a woman in your life
And you invite eternal strife
Let them buy their wedding bands
For those anxious little hands
I'd be equally as willing
For a dentist to be drilling
Than to ever let a woman in my life
I'm a very gentle man
Even-tempered and good-natured who you never hear complain
Who has the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein
A patient man am I, down to my fingertips
The sort who never would, never could
Let an insulting remark escape his lips
A very gentle man
But, let a woman in your life
And patience hasn't got a chance
She will beg you for advice, your reply will be concise
And she'll listen very nicely, and then go out and do precisely what she wants
You are a man of grace and polish
Who never spoke above a hush
Now all at once you're using language
That would make a sailor blush
Let a woman in your life
And you're plunging in a knife
Let the others of my sex tie the knot around their necks
I prefer a new edition of the Spanish Inquisition
Than to ever let a woman in my life
I'm a quiet living man
Who prefers to spend the evening in the silence of his room
Who likes an atmosphere as restful as an undiscovered tomb
A pensive man am I of philosophical joys
Who likes to meditate, contemplate
Free from humanity's mad inhuman noise
Just a quiet living man
But, let a woman in your life
And your sabbatical is through
In a line that never ends comes an army of her friends
Come to jabber and to chatter
And to tell her what the matter is with you!
She'll have a booming boisterous family
Who will descend on you en mass
She'll have a large wagnarian mother
With a voice that shatters glass
Let a woman in your life
Let a woman in your life
I shall never let a woman in my life
The song "I'm an Ordinary Man" by Rex Harrison is a comical and satirical piece about the traditions and roles of men and women in relationships during that era. Harrison sings about his contentment with being an "ordinary man" who craves nothing more than a simple and peaceful life. However, he explains that as soon as a woman enters his life, his sense of tranquility evaporates. He sings about how a woman can turn his life upside down by invading his personal space and hijacking his plans without consideration.
Harrison emphasizes the frustration and humor of how a woman's presence can fundamentally alter a man's character. He sings of the absurdity of how trivial topics such as love and relationships can take center stage over art or intellect. He also touches on how women can bring the chaos of their personal lives into a man's, bringing with them a boisterous and talkative social circle. All of these notions are satirical and comedic, but they also reveal the struggles that men and women faced regarding societal expectations and gender roles at that time.
Overall, the song is a fun and entertaining portrayal of the struggles between men and women in relationships, told through a satirical and comedic lens. The song sheds light on how the gender roles of that era affected romantic relationships, and it offers a humorous perspective on the topic.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm an ordinary man
I am a person of average abilities and aspirations
Who desires nothing more than just an ordinary chance
All I want is a fair opportunity to live my life
To live exactly as he likes and do precisely what he wants
I wish to live according to my own preferences and make my own decisions
An average man am I, of no eccentric whim
I am a regular person and don't have any unusual or peculiar habits or desires
Who likes to live his life free of strife
I prefer living without conflicts or stress
Doing whatever he thinks is best for him
I choose to do what I believe is right for me
Well, just an ordinary man
In summary, I am just a normal person
But, let a woman in your life
However, when a woman becomes a part of your life...
And your serenity is through
Your peaceful state of mind is over
She'll redecorate your home, from the cellar to the dome
She will transform your living space from the basement to the roof
And then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you
And then continue the thrilling adventure of changing everything about you
And you're up against a wall
You're facing a dilemma or challenge
Make a plan and you will find she has something else in mind
No matter what your intentions are, she will have a different idea
And so rather than do either, you do something else that neither likes at all
Instead of doing what you want or what she wants, you end up doing something that nobody likes
You want to talk of Keats or Milton
You would like to discuss literature or poetry
She only wants to talk of love
She is only interested in discussing romance or relationships
You go to see a play or ballet
You attend a theatrical performance
And spend it searching for her glove
But instead of enjoying the show, you spend time trying to find her misplaced accessory
And you invite eternal strife
You are creating a situation that will cause ongoing conflict or tension
Let them buy their wedding bands
Let other men get married and wear wedding rings
For those anxious little hands
For their small, anxious fingers
I'd be equally as willing
I would be just as happy or content to...
For a dentist to be drilling
Receive dental care involving a dental drill
Than to ever let a woman in my life
Rather than allowing a woman to be a part of my life
I'm a very gentle man
I am a kindhearted and mild-mannered person
Even-tempered and good-natured who you never hear complain
I have a consistent and pleasant temperament and never express dissatisfaction
Who has the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein
I have a lot of compassion and generosity in my nature
A patient man am I, down to my fingertips
I am an extremely tolerant person, to the smallest extent
The sort who never would, never could
The kind of person who would never...
Let an insulting remark escape his lips
Say anything offensive or derogatory
And patience hasn't got a chance
With a woman in your life, having patience is not possible
She will beg you for advice, your reply will be concise
She will request guidance from you, and you will give a brief answer
And she'll listen very nicely, and then go out and do precisely what she wants
She will attentively hear you out, but ultimately decide to do exactly what she desires
You are a man of grace and polish
You are an elegant and refined person
Who never spoke above a hush
You always speak in a soft or quiet tone
Now all at once you're using language
Suddenly, you are using language that is...
That would make a sailor blush
Extremely vulgar and profane
And you're plunging in a knife
You are putting yourself in a vulnerable or difficult position
Let the others of my sex tie the knot around their necks
Let other men get married and deal with the problems of marriage
I prefer a new edition of the Spanish Inquisition
I would rather face the intense scrutiny of the Spanish Inquisition
I'm a quiet living man
I am a person who enjoys a peaceful and solitary existence
Who prefers to spend the evening in the silence of his room
I like to spend my nights alone in the quiet of my personal space
Who likes an atmosphere as restful as an undiscovered tomb
I enjoy an ambiance that is as still and peaceful as a hidden burial place
A pensive man am I of philosophical joys
I am a thoughtful and reflective person who finds pleasure in mental exploration
Who likes to meditate, contemplate
I enjoy spending time thinking about and analyzing things
Free from humanity's mad inhuman noise
Without the distraction or disturbance of humanity's erratic and jarring commotion
And your sabbatical is through
Your break or period of rest is over
In a line that never ends comes an army of her friends
A never-ending stream of her acquaintances will come to you
Come to jabber and to chatter
To talk incessantly and without end
And to tell her what the matter is with you!
And to inform her of what they perceive as your faults or defects
She'll have a booming boisterous family
She will have a loud and exuberant group of relatives
Who will descend on you en mass
They will all come to you in a large group
She'll have a large wagnarian mother
Her mother will be an overweight and loud person
With a voice that shatters glass
Her mother has an extremely high-pitched and grating voice
I shall never let a woman in my life
I will always avoid allowing a woman to be part of my life
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind