Ordinary Man

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

They say that times are hard and they've handed me my cards
They say there's not the work to go around
But when the whistle blows, the gates will finally close
Tonight they're going to shut this factory down
Then they'll tear it down

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 smokes his cigar and he drives a brand new car
And still he takes his family on a cruise, he'll never lose

It seems to me such a cruel irony
He's richer now then he ever was before
And now my cheque is spent, I can't afford the rent
There's one law for the rich, one law 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
No work for anyone here today, no work today
No work today

And so condemned I stand, 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 we are faced with this human waste
A generation cast aside
For 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
No work today
No work today