They stuck him in the army
And they told him where to stand
What a rigid occupation
For the ordinary man
'cause he stood outside the factory gates
With his paper in his hand
What a shameful termination
Of the ordinary man
The army of the lord came down
Put a weapon in his hand
What a mean manipulation
Of the ordinary man
Politics will seal his fate
And money lend a hand
But there's no emancipation
For the ordinary man
First the kiss upon the cheek
Then silver changing hands
What a sorry condemnation
For the ordinary man
And within the prison walls he waits
A government's command
What a cruel incarceration
Of the ordinary man
He played until the ship went down
'Cause he was in the band
What a final destination
For the ordinary man
What a final destination
For the ordinary man