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Ordinary Man

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

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Chords:
F  - 133211 or xx3211
G  - 355433 or 320033
Am - 577555 or x02210
C  - x35553 or x32010
E  - x79997 or 022100
[Intro]
   F     G     Am(x3)
[Verse 1]
AmI’m an ordinary mGan, nothing speFcial, nothing grAmand 
I’ve hFad to work for evGerything I Amown
AmI never asked for a lGot, I was haFppy with what I Amgot 
EnoFugh to keep my faGmily and my hAmome
Now Fthey say that times are hGard and they’ve haCnded me G/Bmy caAmrds 
They say thFere’s not the work to go aroEund 
AAmnd when the whistle blGows, the gaFtes will finally cAmlose
TonighFt they’re going to sGhut this factory dAmown
And they’ll tear it dF-o-wG-nAm  
[Bridge]
F   G   Am
[Verse 2]
AmI never missed a dGay, nor went on stFrike for better pAmay
For 20 Fyears I seGrved them best I coAmuld 
NAmow with a handshake and a chGeque it seems so eFasy to foAmrget 
LoyaltFy through the bGad times and through gAmood 
TFhe owner says he’s sGad to see that tChings have G/Bgot sAmo bad 
But the capFtains of industry won’t let him lEose 
AmHe still drives a cGar and smFokes his cAmigar 
FAnd still takes his faGmily on a crAmuise, he’ll never Flose G  Am  
[Instrumental]
F   G   Am
[Verse 3]
AmNow it seems to Gme such a crFuel iAmrony 
He’s riFcher now than eGver he was beAmfore
AmNow my check is spGent and I cFant afford the rAment 
There’s oFne law for the rGich, one for the pAmoor
EveFry day I’ve trGied to salvage Csome of G/Bmy prAmide 
To finFd some work so’s I might pay my wEay
AmOh but everywhere I Ggo, the ansFwers always Amno
FThere’s no work for anGyone here toAmday
No work t-o-Fd-a-GyAm  
[Instrumental]
F   G   Am
[Verse 4]
AmAnd so condemned I stGand, just an ordFinary Amman
Like thouFsands beGside me in the quAmeue 
AmI watch my darling wGife trying to mFake the best of lAmife 
AFnd God knows what the kGids are going to Amdo
NoFw that we are faGced with Cthis huG/Bman waAmste 
FA generation cast asEide 
AmAs long as I lGive, I nFever will forAmgive, 
You’ve striFpped me of my digGnity and pAmride, you stripped me bFareG  Am  
You’ve stripped me FbaGre, Amyou’ve stripped me FbarGeAm  
[Instrumental] (Until End)
   F     G     Am(x6)

All chords in this song (6)

Open

XO221O

Minor chord - Sad, melancholic sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

A minor

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

Ordinary Man

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Ordinary Man

by Christy Moore

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G/B

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Chords:

F - 133211 or xx3211

G - 355433 or 320033

Am - 577555 or x02210

C - x35553 or x32010

E - x79997 or 022100

[Intro]

F G Am

(x3)

[Verse 1]

Am G F Am

I’m an ordinary man, nothing special, nothing grand

F G Am

I’ve had to work for everything I own

Am G F Am

I never asked for a lot, I was happy with what I got

F G Am

Enough to keep my family and my home

F G C G/B Am

Now they say that times are hard and they’ve handed me my cards

F E

They say there’s not the work to go around

Am G F Am

And when the whistle blows, the gates will finally close

F G Am

Tonight they’re going to shut this factory down

F G Am

And they’ll tear it d-o-w-n

[Bridge]

F G Am

[Verse 2]

Am G F Am

I never missed a day, nor went on strike for better pay

F G Am

For 20 years I served them best I could

Am G F Am

Now with a handshake and a cheque it seems so easy to forget

F G Am

Loyalty through the bad times and through good

F G C G/B Am

The owner says he’s sad to see that things have got so bad

F E

But the captains of industry won’t let him lose

Am G F Am

He still drives a car and smokes his cigar

F G Am F G Am

And still takes his family on a cruise, he’ll never lose

[Instrumental]

F G Am

[Verse 3]

Am G F Am

Now it seems to me such a cruel irony

F G Am

He’s richer now than ever he was before

Am G F Am

Now my check is spent and I cant afford the rent

F G Am

There’s one law for the rich, one for the poor

F G C G/B Am

Every day I’ve tried to salvage some of my pride

F E

To find some work so’s I might pay my way

Am G F Am

Oh but everywhere I go, the answers always no

F G Am

There’s no work for anyone here today

F G Am

No work t-o-d-a-y

[Instrumental]

F G Am

[Verse 4]

Am G F Am

And so condemned I stand, just an ordinary man

F G Am

Like thousands beside me in the queue

Am G F Am

I watch my darling wife trying to make the best of life

F G Am

And God knows what the kids are going to do

F G C G/B Am

Now that we are faced with this human waste

F E

A generation cast aside

Am G F Am

As long as I live, I never will forgive,

F G Am F G Am

You’ve stripped me of my dignity and pride, you stripped me bare

F G Am F G Am

You’ve stripped me bare, you’ve stripped me bare

[Instrumental] (Until End)

F G Am

(x6)

About Ordinary Man Chords by Christy Moore

Learn how to play Ordinary Man by Christy Moore with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ordinary Man chords”, “Ordinary Man guitar chords”, or “Christy Moore Ordinary Man chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Ordinary Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ordinary Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, G, Am, C, E, G/B.

FAQ — Ordinary Man by Christy Moore

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What key is "Ordinary Man" in?

The chords for "Ordinary Man" show the original chord names (including F, G, Am, C, E, G/B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.