“Ordinary” by Alex Warren is a heartfelt song that explores the transformative power of love. It delves into themes of devotion, spiritual connection, and finding extraordinary meaning in everyday life. The lyrics weave a narrative of elevating the mundane to something divine, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the depth of the narrator’s emotions.
Through its emotional delivery and anthemic production, “Ordinary” captures the essence of loving someone who makes life extraordinary.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
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“Ordinary” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
They say, “The holy water’s watered down
And this town’s lost its faith
Our colors will fade eventually”
So, if our time is runnin’ out
Day after day
We’ll make the mundane our masterpiece
The opening verse sets a tone of disillusionment and fading hope. The imagery of “watered down” holy water and a town losing faith suggests a world that has lost its sense of wonder. However, the narrator proposes to counter this by making “the mundane our masterpiece,” indicating a determination to find beauty and meaning in ordinary moments.
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh my, my
Oh my, my love
I take one look at you
This brief section expresses awe and admiration. The repetition of “Oh my, my” conveys a sense of wonder, suggesting that simply looking at the loved one is enough to inspire amazement.
[Chorus]
You’re takin’ me out of the ordinary
I want you layin’ me down ’til we’re dead and buried
On the edge of your knife, stayin’ drunk on your vine
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin’ we found
Somethin’ so out of the ordinary
You got me kissin’ thе ground of your sanctuary
Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return mе to dust
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin’ we found
The chorus is the heart of the song, emphasizing how love elevates life beyond the ordinary. It uses vivid imagery to describe the intensity of the relationship, comparing it to religious devotion. The line “The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin’ we found” suggests that their love is so profound it surpasses even heavenly experiences.
[Verse 2]
Hopeless hallelujah
On this side of Heaven’s gate
Oh, my life, how do ya
Breathe and take my breath away?
At your altar, I will pray
You’re the sculptor, I’m the clay
This verse continues the religious metaphors, describing love as a form of worship. The phrase “Hopeless hallelujah” could indicate a paradoxical mix of despair and praise. The imagery of being clay molded by a sculptor emphasizes the transformative nature of this love.
[Bridge]
Somethin’ so heavenly, higher than ecstasy
Whenever you’re next to me, oh my, my
World was in black and white until I saw your light
I thought you had to die to find
The bridge intensifies the theme of transformation. It describes the love as “heavenly” and “higher than ecstasy,” emphasizing its transcendent quality. The line “World was in black and white until I saw your light” powerfully illustrates how this love has brought color and vibrancy to the narrator’s life.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Ordinary”
Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” delves into the transformative power of love, exploring how it can elevate the mundane aspects of life into something extraordinary. The song’s lyrics weave together themes of spiritual disillusionment, devotion, and personal transformation, creating a narrative that resonates deeply with listeners.
At its core, “Ordinary” is about finding profound meaning and beauty in everyday experiences through the lens of love. Warren uses vivid spiritual imagery to convey the depth of the narrator’s feelings, suggesting that love has the ability to bring purpose and transcendence to even the most ordinary moments. The song begins by painting a picture of a world that has lost its luster, with references to watered-down holy water and a town that has lost its faith. This sets the stage for the transformative power of love to take center stage.
The chorus of the song emphasizes how love can take someone “out of the ordinary,” elevating their experiences and perceptions. Warren uses powerful metaphors, comparing the intensity of love to being on the edge of a knife and staying drunk on a vine, illustrating the intoxicating and sometimes precarious nature of deep emotional connections. The imagery of angels being jealous further underscores the idea that the love described in the song is something rare and almost divine.
Throughout the song, Warren explores the idea of love as a form of salvation and rebirth. The lyrics suggest that through this profound connection, the narrator finds a sense of purpose and meaning that they thought could only be achieved after death. This theme is particularly evident in the bridge, where Warren sings about seeing the world in color for the first time and experiencing something “higher than ecstasy”.
Ultimately, “Ordinary” is a powerful exploration of how love can transform our perception of the world around us, turning the mundane into the extraordinary and bringing light to a world that once seemed dull and lifeless. It’s a testament to the human capacity for finding beauty and meaning in the simplest of things when viewed through the lens of profound love and connection.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.