I'm an ordinary man, nothing special nothing grand

I've had to work for everything I own

I never asked for a lot, I was happy with what I got

Enough to keep my family and my home



Now they say that times are hard and they've handed me my cards

They say there's not the work to go around

And when the whistle blows, the gates will finally close

Tonight they're going to shut this factory down

Then they'll tear it d-o-w-n



I never missed a day nor went on strike for better pay

For twenty years I served them best I could

Now with a handshake and a cheque it seems so easy to forget

Loyalty through the bad times and through good

The owner says he's sad to see that things have got so bad

but the captains of industry won't let him lose

He still drives a car and smokes his cigar

And still he takes his family on a cruise, he'll never lose



Well it seems to me such a cruel irony

He's richer now then he ever was before

Now my cheque is spent and I can't afford the rent

There's one law for the rich, one for the poor

Every day I've tried to salvage some of my pride

To find some work so's I might pay my way

Oh but everywhere I go, the answer's always no

There's no work for anyone here today, no work today



Break - 1st four lines



And so condemned I stand just an ordinary man

Like thousands beside me in the queue

I watch my darling wife trying to make the best of life

And God knows what the kids are going to do

Now that we are faced with this human waste

A generation cast aside

And as long as I live, I never will forgive

You've stripped me of my dignity and pride, you've stripped me bare

You've stripped me bare, You've stripped me bare