I'm an ordinary man, nothin' special nothin' grand
I had to work for everything I own
I never asked for a lot I was happy with what I got
Enought to keep my family and my home
Now they say that times are hard and they've handed me my card
They say there's not the work to go around
When the whistle blows, the gates will finally close
Tonight they're going to shut this factory down
And they'll tear it down
I never missed a day, nor went on strike for better pay
For twenty years I served them the best I could
With a handshake and a check it's so easy to forget
The loyalty through the bad times and the good
Now the owner says he's sad to see that things have got so bad
But the captain's of industry won't let him loose
But still he drives a car, and smokes his big cigars
Still he takes his family on a cruise
He'll never lose
It seems to be such a cruel irony
He's richer now than he ever was before
Now my check is spent and I can't afford the rent
One law for the rich, one for the poor
Everyday I try to salvage, so of my pride
To find some work so I might pay my way
But everywhere I go, the answer's always,"No"
No work for anyone here today
No work today
Here condemned I stand just an ordinary
Man, like thousands before me in the queue
I watch my darlin' wife while tryin' to make the best of life
God knows what the kids are goin' to do
Now that we are faced, with this human waste
A generation cast aside
As long as I live, I never will forgive
They've stripped me of my dignity and pride
You've stripped me bare
No work today