They stuck him in the army And they told him where to stand What a rigid occupation For the ordinary man 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