ORDINARY
You think that I'm the one that you're looking for
And can solve all your problems
Well you know
If you need someone who can save the world
On the wings of another
Well you know
And if you think that I can stand with you
Side by side as your brother
Oh no. You see
I'm not extraordinary
I'm rather ordinary
I'm a case of mistaken identity you see
There's nothing here for you to see
A glass that's mostly empty
A dog who's barking up the wrong tree
And if you think that there's a place for me
Instead of another
Oh no
And if you think that I could turn away
And forsake my brother
Well you know
I'm not extraordinary
I'm rather ordinary
I'm a case of mistaken identity you see
There's nothing here for you to see
A glass that's mostly empty
A Dog who's barking up the wrong tree
There's a voice inside
Whose job is to deride
And turn the colors to grey
Please try to ignore
The things that you abhor
And make you want to run away
This is a song about impostor syndrome. I've been arranging and writing for high school and college bands for 30 years now. I've written for some of the biggest and most celebrated band programs in the world. I have (as of now) about 40 complete original marching band shows that competitive bands have performed all across the country. You would think that, by now, I'd feel great about all of this.
You would be wrong. It's still nerve wracking as hell. I still feel like I'm behind and have something to prove.
As an aside, when I was sharing the words for the song, one of my friends responded with "cheer up, dude". Made me realize how dark and raw a lot of this album was becoming. That really helped push me to make sure the last song on the album was decidedly more upbeat and cheerful.