Ordinary – English Lyrics

• By: Alex Warren
• Album: You'll Be Alright, Kid

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English with Alex Warren's hit song "Ordinary," a track that beautifully blends simple, heartfelt language with powerful, evocative metaphors. The song's narrative structure and emotional lyrics offer a unique way to explore themes of love, devotion, and finding the extraordinary in everyday life. Its accessible vocabulary, combined with more complex spiritual allusions, provides a great opportunity for learners to expand their understanding of English in a contemporary pop context.

[English]

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

Oh my, my

Oh my, my love

I take one look at you

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' the ground of your sanctuary

Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust

The angels up in the clouds are jealous, knowin' we found

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

Oh my, my

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 (out) of the ordinary (ordinary)

You got me kissin' the ground (ground) of your sanctuary (sanctuary)

Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust

The angels up in the clouds are jealous, knowin' we found

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

Somethin' so 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 (out) of the ordinary

You got me kissin' the ground (ground) of your sanctuary (sanctuary)

Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust

The angels up in the clouds are jealous, knowin' we found

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fade /feɪd/ B1	verb - to gradually become less visible, audible, or distinct.
masterpiece /ˈmɑːstərpiːs/ C1	noun - a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to turn one's eyes in a specified direction. noun - an act of looking.
ordinary /ˈɔːrdɪnəri/ B1	adjective - with no special or distinctive features or qualities; commonplace.
lay /leɪ/ A2	verb - to put down gently or carefully.
edge /edʒ/ B1	noun - the outside limit of an object, area, or surface.
knife /naɪf/ A2	noun - a tool or weapon with a cutting blade, a handle, and a point.
vine /vaɪn/ B2	noun - a plant with a slender or trailing stem that obtains support from an object or structure.
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/ B1	noun - a supernatural being regarded as an intermediary between God and the world.
found /faʊnd/ A2	verb - past tense of find - discover unexpectedly.
kiss /kɪs/ A2	verb - press one's lips against (someone's) as a sign of love, reverence, or greeting. noun - an act of kissing.
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth.
sanctuary /ˈsæŋktʃuəri/ C1	noun - a place of refuge or safety.
shatter /ˈʃætər/ B2	verb - to break or cause to break suddenly and violently into pieces.
dust /dʌst/ A1	noun - fine particles of matter.
heavenly /ˈhevənli/ B2	adjective - relating to Heaven; divine.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that makes things visible.
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - address God or a god in supplication or thanksgiving.
sculptor /ˈskʌlptər/ C1	noun - a person who creates sculptures.
clay /kleɪ/ A2	noun - a soft, earthy material formed from finely ground mineral particles.

Key Grammar Structures

• So if our time is runnin' out

  ➔ Conditional Clause (if)

  ➔ This line uses an 'if' clause to introduce a hypothetical situation or condition: "if our time is runnin' out".

• We'll make the mundane our masterpiece

  ➔ Future Simple (will + base verb)

  ➔ The phrase "We'll make" uses the Future Simple tense to express a future intention or plan based on the preceding condition.

• You're takin' me out of the ordinary

  ➔ Present Continuous (be + -ing) in informal speech

  ➔ "You're takin'" is a contraction of "You are taking," demonstrating the Present Continuous tense used to describe an ongoing action or state.

• I want you layin' me down 'til we're dead and buried

  ➔ Imperative (implied) and Present Participle (-ing) after 'want'

  ➔ While not a direct imperative, "I want you layin'" expresses a strong desire, using the present participle to describe the desired action of the object.

• On the edge of your knife, stayin' drunk on your vine

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase and Present Participle (-ing)

  ➔ This line uses a prepositional phrase "On the edge of your knife" to set a scene, followed by a present participle "stayin'" to describe a continuous state.

• The angels up in the clouds are jealous, knowin' we found

  ➔ Present Participle (-ing) as an adverbial modifier

  ➔ "Knowin'" acts as an adverbial participle phrase, explaining the reason for the angels' jealousy.

• Somethin' so out of the ordinary

  ➔ Adjective Phrase modifying 'Somethin''

  ➔ The phrase "so out of the ordinary" functions as an adjective phrase, describing the nature of "Somethin'".

• You got me kissin' the ground of your sanctuary

  ➔ Causative verb 'get' + object + present participle

  ➔ This structure "got me kissin'" indicates that the subject (you) caused the object (me) to perform the action (kissin').

• Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verbs "Shatter" and "return" are in the imperative mood, directly commanding or requesting an action.

• World was in black and white until I saw your light

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ This sentence uses the Past Simple tense ("was", "saw") to describe completed actions or states in the past.