As a fourteen year old I sat on the bed in my bedroom endlessly playing this song. It seemed to sum up how I felt about myself. I didn’t seem to fit in. I didn’t like the mainstream stuff.
One you’ve accepted that you’re an outsider you begin to look at things objectively.
I looked at the life my parents led and it seemed shallow.
I looked at the career path laid out for me and it seemed dreary.
I looked at the world I lived in and it seemed drab.
I yearned for something with more meaning, purpose and bigger horizons. I was after more colour. The post-war society of Britain seemed black and white and all veneer. I wanted depth and colour.
Ray Davies was one of the first singer-songwriters to say things. He connected with me.
This was around the time I discovered Dylan.
My life has never been the same.
“I’m Not Like Everybody Else”
I won’t take all that they hand me down,
And make out a smile, though I wear a frown,
And I won’t take it all lying down,
‘Cause once I get started I go to town.
‘Cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
And I don’t want to ball about like everybody else,
And I don’t want to live my life like everybody else,
And I won’t say that I feel fine like everybody else,
‘Cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
But darling, you know that I love you true,
Do anything that you want me to,
Confess all my sins like you want me to,
There’s one thing that I will say to you,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else
And I don’t want to ball about like everybody else,
And I don’t want to live my life like everybody else,
And I won’t say that I feel fine like everybody else,
‘Cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
Like everybody else,
Like everybody else,
Like everybody else,
Like everybody else.
If you all want me to settle down,
Slow up and stop all my running ’round,
Do everything like you want me to,
There’s one thing that I will say to you,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
And I don’t want to ball about like everybody else,
And I don’t want to live my life like everybody else,
And I won’t say that I feel fine like everybody else,
‘Cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
Like everybody else (like everybody else),
Like everybody else (like everybody else),
Like everybody else (like everybody else),
Like everybody else.