Ordinary People lyrics

Song information

Artist: Kinks
Album: The Kinks Present A Soap Opera

Lyrics

Star:
I am the image maker. I am the magic
Maker. I can turn the most ordinary
Man in the world into a star. to prove
My point I am going to find the most
Mundane little man and turn him into
Celebrity. hmm! this looks like a
Suitably uninteresting house. I wonder
If there's anybody here with enough
Star quality?

He presses the doorbell

Star:
Hello. what's your name?

Wife:
Andrea

Star:
Oh, that's a nice name. what's your
Husband's name?

Wife:
Norman

Star:
His name's norman. that sounds
Ordinary enough. I would like you to
Join in a unique experiment with me
I am going to take norman's place for
A few days. I 'm going to research his
Ordinary dull little existence

Wife:
Oh you can't come in now! the place
Is in a terrible mess!

Star:
That doesn't matter. I want you to act
Normally. I want you to treat me as if i
Were norman. I am going to sacrifice
My normal flamboyant life style and
Become ordinary, boring little norman
For a few days

Ordinary people

It's like another world, being here with you
It's quite a trip for me, so this is reality
I'm studying every movement, I'm trying to learn the part
Now I want you to be natural, just relax and be as you are
'Cos it's all for art, I want to observe the ordinary people

Tomorrow I shall become norman
I shall go to his office
Mix with his workmates
And if they ask any questions
I shall say I'm doing research for one of my songs
Nomand and I are changing places
And I'm going to make him a star
So I'm throwing away my stage suit and I'm packing away my guitar
For the sake of art I'm gonna mix with the ordinary people

Star:
God these pyjamas are awful!

Wife:
Awful? well all I can say is my norman wears them every night

Star:
Alright, no sacrifice is too great for art!

The things I've done for music
The things I've done for art
So I'll make these sacrifices and I'll take it like a star
For the sake of art I will mix with the ordinary people

Star:
You'd better come to bed darling

Wife:
Coming! you'll never get up for work in the morning

I'm making observations, and character simulations
I'll mix with his friends and relations
And he'll be a part of me

Chorus
He's changing places with norman
To get background for his songs

I'm immortalising his life
And I'll even sleep with his wife
For the sake of art I'll go to bed like the ordinary people

Turn out the light
Turn out the light

The star exchanges his silver stage
Suit for norman's pin stripe suit
Umbrella and briefcase. he forsakes
His customary brandy and cigars and
Settles for a cup of hot chocolate before
Going to bed