Well I'm an ordinary man nothing special nothing grand
I've had to work for everything I own
Oh I never asked for a lot I was happy with what I got
Enough to keep my family and my home
Now they say the times are hard and they've handed me my cards
They say there's not the work to go around
Oh but when the whistle blows the gates where finally closed
Tonight they're going to shut this factory down
And they tear it down

I never missed a day nor went on strike for better pay
For twenty years I served them best I could
Now with a handshake and a cheque it seems so easy to forget
Loyalty through the bad times and through good
Now the owner says he's sad to see the things have got so bad
But the captains of industry won't let him lose
He still drives a car and he smokes a cigar
And still he takes his family for a cruise
He'll never lose

Now it seems to me such a cruel irony
He's richer now than ever he was before
And now my cheque is spent and I can't afford the rent
There's one law for the rich one for the poor
Now everyday I try to salvage some of my pride
To find some work so as I might pay my way
Ah but everywhere I go the answer's always "No,
There's no work for anyone here today!"
No work today

And so condemned I stand just an ordinary man
Like thousands beside me in the queue
I watch my darling wife trying to make the best of life
God knows what the kids are going to do
Now that we are faced with this human waste
A generation casts a sigh
For as long as I live I never will forgive
You've stripped me off my dignity and pride
You've stripped me bare
You've stripped me bare
You've stripped me bare