Ordinary World

Duran Duran

Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio
Still I can't escape the ghost of you

What has happened to it all?
Crazy, some'd say
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away

But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive

Passion or coincidence
Once prompted you to say
"Pride will tear us both apart"
Well, now pride's gone out the window
Cross the rooftops
Run away
Left me in the vacuum of my heart

What is happening to me?
Crazy, some'd say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away

But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive

(Just blown away)

Papers in the roadside
Tell of suffering and greed
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
Ooh, here besides the news
Of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk

And I don't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive

Every one
Is my world (I will learn to survive)
Any one
Is my world (I will learn to survive)
Any one
Is my world


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by silvioaa

Ordinary World Lyrics as written by Nigel John Taylor Warren Cuccurullo

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Ordinary World song meanings
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73 Comments

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  • +15
    General CommentIt's about losing someone and learning to cope. When you have someone in your life who is your everything, your world is special; it's wonderful; it's Nirvana. When that person leaves or is taken from you, your world is no longer wonderful or special. It's just "ordinary". This song is about learning to deal with a new life, a new world that is ordinary and making the resolution that "I will survive".
    KinksFanon March 07, 2013   Link
  • +7
    MemoryThis song brings back a very sad time in my life.

    3 days before I was supposed to get married, it all blew up.

    All my fault, I screwed up bad.

    This song was just coming out at the time, and I saw the video.. it forever became the anthem of this screwed up time in my life in upstate new york. I remember being in a hotel room, waiting for my new apartment to be ready, and this video came on. It was the first time I really listened to the words.

    I lost the person I love and my best friend as well, because I did something so amazingly wrong. I knew I screwed up, I knew I would never see her again, and I knew that some how I had to learn from this huge mistake, move on, and be a better person after learning this lesson. I had to find my "Ordinary World" so to speak.

    Well, I moved on, found my place in the world, got married, and lived happily ever after, she did as well. Ours truly was just a little sorrow, but man did it hurt.

    I guess we all live and learn, it was really hard to hear these lyrics at that time.
    DarkStarson March 30, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Commentwhat a great song... truly is! i don't listen to this kind of stuff much but man oh man, this one got me! :)
    arsenovicon May 17, 2006   Link
  • +3
    Song MeaningThis has always been my favorite Duran Duran song, and my Mom's as well. I always thought I "got" what it was saying, but it never made more sense as when my Mom passed away. I was looking for a song to use for her picture slideshow and this was perfect. I could sense her saying to me, "you will be okay, life will go on" through this song. I know Simon wrote this for a friend that died, and it makes perfect sense. Also seems like their was some sort of strain on their relationship, maybe things that could have been different. Maybe things that were always lingering with a thought of "we can fix that later." Maybe that is why Simon took this particular loss so hard. That's how I felt with my Mom. I kept telling myself, our relationship will get better when X, or I will try harder later. Now I don't have that chance. But all I can do is move on, and know that she loves me and I love her flaws and all, and that is enough. Nothing is perfect, but we have to get through and power on. And we never have to forget.
    alinichole9on October 12, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis song is the best!! it really helped me through some hard times. Duran Duran rocks my world
    Duranie147DCon April 14, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment"What is happening to it all?
    Crazy some say-
    Where is the life that I recognize?
    Gone away."

    &

    "But I won't cry for yesterday.
    There's an ordinary world somehow I have to find.
    And as I try to make my way to the ordinary world
    I will learn to survive."

    I can relate to this.
    To me.. it's about getting through life and moving on, not being held back by the past.. and accepting change.
    xx_sunshineon May 20, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentSimon wrote this song when his best friend died in an accident.
    ca1290on April 01, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Commentthe intrumental at the end rocks and goes wicked on layer cake
    cdbilson March 12, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Commentsongs about the struggle and want to give up drugs - and all the people he's hurt while on drugs
    yoTIMyoon April 24, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentPassion or coincidence once prompted you to say
    "Pride will tear us both apart"
    Well now pride's gone out the window cross the rooftops, run away,
    Left me in the vacuum of my heart.

    Song is about a relationship that breaks up. The one that was too prideful to admit it was their fault finally realizes/gets weak when it’s too late and too much time has passed. Question “Where is my friend when I need you most?” this is when he’s feeling the lowest about everything and misses the person so much . This is regarding the lover/friend not platonic friend. But now the person realizes they made their bed now have to live with their choice/mistake and keep going on. It’s truly sad for the individual but not as sad as all the bad things that happen in this world like hunger, people dying/killed, poverty, etc.
    faye1328on November 03, 2014   Link

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