It is just a statement about relationships and my view on them.' Reception Ĭritics were overwhelmingly positive towards 'Ordinary People', many of whom complimented the song's juxtaposition of simple stark piano and John Legend's vocal range. Their relationship is, of course, one of my reference points, but I didn't write this to be autobiographical or biographical. No specific experience in my life led me to the lyrics for this song, although my parents were married twice to each other and divorced twice from each other. If a relationship is going to work, it will require compromise and, even then, it is not always going to end the way you want it to. Legend explained the song's lyrical content in the book Chicken Soup For the Soul: The Story Behind The Song: 'The idea for the song is that relationships are difficult and the outcome uncertain. Legend sings about how people make errors of judgment in relationships ('I know I misbehaved/And you've made your mistakes/And we both still got room left to grow.'), and that fighting and making up in the end is a regular obstacle: '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.' The lyrics include parallel structure to address the common ups-and-downs of maintaining a relationship: '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/Maybe we'll grow, we never know.' The song's title itself is taken from its chorus, 'We're just ordinary people/We don't know which way to go/'Cause we're ordinary people/Maybe we should take it slow.' The song's lyrical themes include contrast, contradiction, guilt, doubt and fear. Legend walks to and from the piano with a glass of water, as a short bookending to the video proper. For the final minute of the video, Legend is joined by a string section and (audibly) a harmonica. The music video for 'Ordinary People', directed by Chris Milk and Legend's then-label boss Kanye West, features Legend playing a grand piano in an all-white space, while couples and families fight and reconcile around and in front of the piano.

John legend this time we take it slow