"Ordinary People" - John Legend

JOHN LEGEND LYRICS
"Ordinary People"

[Verse 1] Girl I'm in love with you, this ain't the honeymoon, past the infatuation phase. Right in the thick of love, at times we get sick of love, it seems like we argue everyday.

I think the first part of the lyric is very raw and straight to the point. It states the reality of how real love is discovered after the infatuation passes at the beginning of a new relationship. Many people mistaken infatuation as being "in love." But the many dating experts discover that real love can be discovered after the first initial giddiness and butterflies pass. The ending part of the verse says how a love/hate relationship can feel. When times are tough, being "in love" can feel impossible when negative energy is present in a struggling relationship, even if the love in the relationship is heightened by strong and emotional connections.

[Bridge] I know I misbehaved and you made your mistakes and we both still got room left to grow. And though love sometimes hurts, I still put you first, and we'll make this thing work but I think we should take it slow.

This explains how a person can admit their flaws and wrong doings. He also states how the couple can learn from their mistakes and improve on what they've done wrong. He also states that love can be painful and how he still puts his woman first no matter what the situation is. I get the feeling that he knows what unconditional love is but in order to show it, he feels that things should progress in a slow motion in order to fix any problems. Admiting that something has gone wrong in a relatinship is always a healthy step to fixing a problem, or in this verse, a wounded heart.

[Chorus] We're just ordinary people. We don't know which way to go. Cuz we're ordinary people. Maybe we should take it slow. (Take it slow oh oh ohh) This time we'll take it slow. (Take it slow oh oh ohh) This time we'll take it slow.

The impression that I get from this is the vulnerability the guy is feeling as a person. He understands and wants the other person to understand that he's a human being of flesh and blood. Many people learn from their mistakes through life's experiences, wether good or bad. I feel that in order for someone to find their own identity and be comfortable in their own skin, they have to learn from life's experiences through mistakes and heart aches. In this verse, he seems to understand that he's like everyone else. He's not a flawless human being and in order for him to stop making the mistakes in the troubled relationship, he needs to take his time to growing and learning from them. (and vice versa)

[Verse 2] This ain't a movie, no. No fairy tale conclusion ya'll. It gets more confusing everyday. Sometimes it's heaven sent, then we head back to hell again. We kiss then we make up on the way.

This verse explains the reality of a REAL relationship. Many people would like to have the fairy tale story of being saved and swept off their feet by a heroic prince/princess. But in the real world, a relationship can have plenty of fire breathing dragons, wort infested toads, and many tortureous hurdles to go through in order to be happy. The ending part of the verse also explains the ups and downs of relationships. How one minute people can feel like they're walking on air with the high feeling of being in love. Then the next minute, their life can feel shattered with a broken heart until the crumbled bridges in the relationship can be mended again.

[Bridge] I hang up, you call. We rise and we fall and we feel like just walking away. As our love advances, we take second chances. Though it's not a fantasy, I still want you to stay.

This explains the frustrations of how to deal with problems and with each other. Sometimes peoples' emotions can get the best of them and many people spontaneously think with their heart and not with their brain. At times when things may seem overwhelming and doesn't seem like things are going to improve in a relationship, the feeling of throwing in the towel can over ride the logical part of trying to solve a problem or trying to end a fight in a healthy way.
[Chorus]

[Verse 3] Take it slow. Maybe we'll live and learn, maybe we'll crash and burn, maybe you'll stay, maybe you'll leave, maybe you'll return. Maybe another fight, maybe we won't survive, but maybe we'll grow. We never know baby you and I.

This verse is so clear on how there are many risks when being in love. Many people take chances in trying to be in love and trying to make love work. This person seems to understand the many ending possibilies that could occur after each fight, or after each mistake is made. He also seems to understand that he doesn't know what the outcome of their relationship is, but he's willing to gamble with his heart. He's willing to continue to be a fool in love.

** I absolutely love this song. When I heard it for the first time on the radio, I thought the lyrics were raw and real. John Legend did such a great job in explaining how being in love can affect a relationship. I think the lyrics are straight to the point and I also feel that he has an original style of writing that I haven't seen in other musicians in a very long time. **