The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
City lights shine down upon the place that I call home
Surrounded by a million but I feel like I'm alone
And I might be a nobody to you
But if I'm playing, would you listen?
If you would get to know me
Maybe you would love me
I'm so ordinary
Dragging 'round an old guitar that I can't even play
I fade into your background like a piece of yesterday
I might be a nobody to you
But somewhere they're gonna listen
If you would get to know me
Maybe you would love me
I'm so ordinary
And if you would let me know you
Maybe I would show you
Wouldn't we be something?
Sad the way we always seem to pass by one another
Hiding, so afraid of the things we might discover
Caught up in a moment that only you can live in
You never know who's giving the air that you might breathe in
If you would get to know me
Maybe you would love me
I'm so ordinary
And if you would let me know you
Maybe I would show you
Wouldn't we be something?
City lights shine down upon the place that I call home
Surrounded by a million but I feel like I'm alone
And I might be a nobody to you
But somewhere, they're gonna listen
Surrounded by a million but I feel like I'm alone
And I might be a nobody to you
But if I'm playing, would you listen?
If you would get to know me
Maybe you would love me
I'm so ordinary
Dragging 'round an old guitar that I can't even play
I fade into your background like a piece of yesterday
I might be a nobody to you
But somewhere they're gonna listen
If you would get to know me
Maybe you would love me
I'm so ordinary
And if you would let me know you
Maybe I would show you
Wouldn't we be something?
Sad the way we always seem to pass by one another
Hiding, so afraid of the things we might discover
Caught up in a moment that only you can live in
You never know who's giving the air that you might breathe in
If you would get to know me
Maybe you would love me
I'm so ordinary
And if you would let me know you
Maybe I would show you
Wouldn't we be something?
City lights shine down upon the place that I call home
Surrounded by a million but I feel like I'm alone
And I might be a nobody to you
But somewhere, they're gonna listen
Lyrics submitted by dont_say_a_word17
Ordinary Lyrics as written by Marti Dodson Pat Buzzard
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i think this is pretty much about this girl who likes this guy, but he doesn't even notice her...
:)
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I think this girl has something with this guy... but they dont talk about what they feel for each other.. so she tells him to give her a "chance" to show him how awesome it would be if they... get together...
I think this is more about people in general. Think of the narrator as a street performer in a huge city, talking to the people who pass her by every day and won't remember her face in five seconds. Or she sees a certain guy walking past her every day and he never knows she's there...oh the angst! really good song.
It sounds like it's about being noticed by either a guy or your fans ("Somewhere they're going to listen", "If I'm playing, would you listen?"), and about the music industry ("Dragging around an old guitar that I can't even play").