Intro and Familiar Sound
Alex Warren’s Ordinary begins with a soft acoustic intro that sets the tone for the song's emotional journey, immediately evoking comparisons to acts like Coldplay and Lewis Capaldi. The guitar strums and his heartfelt vocals introduce a familiar, if somewhat predictable, pop-rock atmosphere. Warren’s voice, though not groundbreaking in its tone, brings a sincere emotional depth, as he sings with a passion that feels both raw and relatable, following in the footsteps of established singer-songwriters in this genre.
Grand Production and Anthemic Feel
The song quickly evolves from a simple, acoustic-driven track into a larger, more anthemic production, especially when it hits the chorus. The use of staggered instrumentals and gospel-inspired elements in the chorus give Ordinary a sense of grandiosity, which lifts it from its otherwise generic foundations. The buildup is predictable but effective, adding emotional weight to the track as Warren sings about love and finding something extraordinary in the mundane. The layered production helps to elevate the song’s impact, ensuring it stays memorable.
Exploring Love and Devotion
Lyrically, Warren delves into themes of love, devotion, and transformation. Lines like “We'll make the mundane our masterpiece” and “You're takin' me out of the ordinary” explore the idea of finding beauty in everyday life, an idea that resonates deeply with the song’s title. The religious metaphors, such as “holy water's watered down” and “the angels up in the clouds are jealous,” add a spiritual layer to the romantic narrative, elevating the connection between the characters to something transcendent. This blend of the sacred and the everyday gives the lyrics a thoughtful, introspective quality.
Emotional Build-Up and Structure
The song’s structure is straightforward, adhering closely to the verse-chorus format typical of pop ballads. However, it doesn’t shy away from building intensity, with each chorus feeling more impactful than the last. The bridge, with its lines about “higher than ecstasy” and “world was in black and white until I saw your light,” serves as the emotional climax, solidifying the song’s theme of transformation through love. Though Warren’s approach here doesn’t break new ground, his execution is polished and emotionally resonant.
Alex Warren Ordinary Review
Ordinary may not push boundaries within the pop-rock or singer-songwriter genres, but it successfully conveys its themes of love and transcendence. The acoustic elements, gospel influences, and Warren’s earnest vocal delivery come together to create a song that, while familiar, hits the right emotional notes. For fans of heartfelt, emotionally-driven pop music, Ordinary offers a comforting and enjoyable listen.
Listen To Alex Warren Ordinary
Alex Warren Ordinary Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of Ordinary by Alex Warren is rooted in the transformative power of love, as it takes the mundane aspects of life and elevates them to something extraordinary. The song explores themes of disillusionment, faith, and devotion, using vivid spiritual imagery to convey the depth of the narrator's feelings. Through lyrics that reference faith, angels, and divinity, the song suggests that love has the ability to bring purpose and beauty to even the most ordinary moments. Warren's powerful storytelling and emotional delivery emphasize the idea that love can be a sanctuary, offering both salvation and transcendence.
Verse 1: Disillusionment and Finding Meaning
The first verse of Ordinary sets a somber, introspective tone, focusing on themes of spiritual and emotional decline. The line "The holy water's watered down" suggests that something once pure or sacred has lost its power or meaning. This could refer to faith, love, or life itself feeling diluted or weakened. The following line, "And this town's lost its faith," further emphasizes a sense of disillusionment or loss of hope in a broader sense, perhaps reflecting on societal or personal disillusionment. "Our colors will fade eventually" implies the inevitability of time passing and things decaying, a recognition that all things, including love and life, are transient. Despite this, the narrator is determined to find meaning: "So, if our time is runnin' out... We'll make the mundane our masterpiece." This line highlights the central theme of the song—finding beauty and significance in ordinary moments, transforming the mundane into something special.
Pre-Chorus: Intimate Expression of Awe
The pre-chorus is a simple yet intimate expression of awe and love. "Oh my, my / Oh my, my love / I take one look at you" signals a shift from the introspective, existential themes of the verse to a more personal, romantic connection. The repeated "Oh my, my" suggests wonder and deep affection, as if the narrator is overwhelmed by their partner's presence. This emotional shift marks the transition from the larger, spiritual contemplation in the verses to a focus on the deeply personal bond between the narrator and their partner.
Chorus: Love as a Transformative Experience
The chorus serves as the emotional core of the song. "You're takin' me out of the ordinary" expresses the transformative power of love. The narrator feels that their partner elevates them beyond the mundane, making life feel extraordinary. The desire for a deep, eternal connection is conveyed through "I want you layin' me down 'til we're dead and buried," indicating a longing for lifelong companionship. The line "I'm on the edge of your knife, stayin' drunk on your vine" suggests both vulnerability and intoxication in the relationship—the narrator is willing to walk the fine line between pleasure and pain, fully immersed in the love they share. The reference to angels being "jealous" reinforces the idea that the love they’ve found is rare, divine, and almost otherworldly. The "sanctuary" and "return me to dust" imagery brings a spiritual dimension to the love, as if the narrator's partner holds a divine-like power over them, capable of creating and destroying.
Verse 2: Devotion and Transformation
In the second verse, religious imagery is further explored. "Hopeless hallelujah / On this side of Heaven's gate" contrasts spiritual praise with a sense of desperation or loss. The narrator feels a sense of hopelessness, yet still clings to love as a source of salvation. The line "how do ya / Breathe and take my breath away?" expresses the narrator's awe at how their partner has a profound effect on them, almost taking away their ability to function normally. The narrator also submits to their partner's influence: "At your altar, I will pray / You're the sculptor, I'm the clay." This line likens the partner to a divine figure who molds and shapes them, suggesting a deep sense of devotion and willingness to be transformed.
Bridge: Transcendence and Revelation
The bridge heightens the emotional intensity with more spiritual and celestial imagery. "Somethin' so heavenly, higher than ecstasy" compares the love to a transcendent, almost supernatural experience, far beyond ordinary pleasures. The line "World was in black and white until I saw your light" emphasizes how life felt dull and lifeless before this person came into the narrator's life, highlighting the transformative power of their love. "I thought you had to die to find" suggests that the narrator believed such profound meaning or joy could only be found after death, but they’ve discovered it in love while still alive. Overall, Ordinary explores the power of love to elevate and transform, blending spiritual imagery with a deeply personal connection to convey the sacred, life-changing nature of love.
Alex Warren Ordinary Lyrics
[Verse 1]
They say, "The holy water's watered down
And this town's lost its faith
Our colors will fade eventually"
So, if our time is runnin' out
Day after day
We'll make the mundane our masterpiece
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh my, my
Oh my, my love
I take one look at you
[Chorus]
You're takin' me out of the ordinary
I want you layin' me down 'til we're dead and buried
I'm on the edge of your knife, stayin' drunk on your vine
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin' we found
Somethin' so out of the ordinary
You got me kissin' the ground of your sanctuary
Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin' we found
[Verse 2]
Hopeless hallelujah
On this side of Heaven's gate
Oh, my life, how do ya
Breathe and take my breath away?
At your altar, I will pray
You're the sculptor, I'm the clay
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh my, my
[Chorus]
You're takin' me out of the ordinary
I want you layin' me down 'til we're dead and buried
I'm on the edge of your knife, stayin' drunk on your vine
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin' we found
Somethin' so out (Out) of the ordinary (Ordinary)
You got me kissing the ground (Ground) of your sanctuary (Sanctuary)
Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin' we found
[Bridge]
Somethin' so heavenly, higher than ecstasy
Whenever you're next to me, oh my, my
World was in black and white until I saw your light
I thought you had to die to find
[Chorus]
Somethin' so out of the ordinary
I want you laying me down 'til we're dead and buried
I'm on the edge of your knife, stayin' drunk on your vine
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin' we found
Somethin' so out (Out) of the ordinary
You got me kissing the ground (Ground) of your sanctuary (Sanctuary)
Shatter me with your touch, oh Lord, return me to dust
The angels up in the clouds are jealous knowin' we found