Ordinary People, Living Ordinary Lives (Bee Gees 1989)

This post may seem a bit disjointed, but if you bear with me, its meaning may become clear.

But first, I’d like to quote the lyrics from “Ordinary People” (and not the John Legend song):

There’ll be one small light
All over the world tonight
The search will go on for the one
It was love with no name and we glowed in the sun

There was one small dream
Incredible highs and lows
What little we knew living ordinary lives
Made a dream for you, living ordinary lives

Ordinary people, living ordinary lives
Ordinary people, living ordinary lives

We were ordinary people, living ordinary lives
We were ordinary people, living ordinary lives

The clock on the wall keeps moving
Time stands still
No matter how the dice may fall
Someone else always gets to call the number

Say goodbye, cruel world
No pity, no pain tonight
Whatever the cost, all is lost
And if it’s love with no name, then it’s all in the stars

Whether it’s wrong or right
There’s no one to blame, no lies
What else could we do living ordinary lives
Made a dream for you, living ordinary lives

Songwriters: Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb

I woke up with this song in my head this morning, and it seems appropriate for the day.

The song was written before Andy Gibb died, and was originally called “Cruel World”. After his death, the song was recorded, mostly by Barry Gibb, who changed its name to the one we know today. Was it a premonition, or just chance?

I see the idea of the “One” album as an anthem to a (literal) ‘band of brothers’ who go through thick and thin together. The Bee Gees (Brothers Gibb) went through many trials and tribulations, most of which we will never be able to understand, but through it all they made beautiful music together.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”