He stood outside the factory gate
With his papers 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 a kiss upon the cheek
Then silver changing hands
What a sorry condemnation
For the ordinary man

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 designation
For the ordinary man