He had white horses
And ladies by the score
All dressed in satin
And waiting by the door

Oooh, what a lucky man he was

White lace and feathers
They made up his bed
A gold covered mattress
On which he was laid

He went to fight wars
For his country and his king
Of his honor and his glory
The people would sing

A bullet had found him
His blood ran as he cried
No money could save him
So he laid down and he died





Lyrics submitted by thedanman344

Lucky Man song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    It's about the harsh realities of life, and just being born on third base doesn't mean you hit a triple, or that you'll make it home.

    inpraiseoffollyon September 14, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I discovered this song during the 80's when my sister worked in a hospital. She had occasion to visit the hospital morgue (in the basement) and told me a few strange, sad tales. For some reason, I got those tales of the morgue associated with this song and every time I hear it, I think "morgue". Sort of a good morgue song, if you must have one... I'm sure, one day, when I'm laying in a morgue, I'll have this song stuck in my head.

    ricksacuraon April 22, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    i don't know, to me this sounds like an actual homage to someone who went to fight for something noble, despite already having everything one could dream of. he was rich, wasn't FORCED to fight--he went there 'to fight for his country and his king'. maybe he was naive in believing somehow his luck could save him from a bullet, but in his death he was also lucky, both cause he died for a noble cause and cause he died fast. and today being Veterans day, i plan on singing it at a karaoke :)

    aleks10153on November 12, 2015   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It's about a man who has pretty much everything he wants, but in the end, no amount of happiness or wealth can save you from the scorn of war.

    thedanman344on September 25, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    First of all, I totally agree with Atemporal. Anyway, this song was written about a nobleman during World War I (I'm asuming he was from England) It shows no matter how much money and beautiful women you have, there is nothing that can save you from death and the cold, hard facts of life. There was two reasons why he was lucky: 1. He had so many riches and wonderful things, and 2. he died swiftly, but sad and horribly. Truly a wonderful, yet sad song. ELP rocks!

    elchido12on September 13, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Yeah, it is a pretty cool song.

    And there's a comment for you.

    inpraiseoffollyon September 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I interpret it as irony. The song goes to show how little material things mean in the grand scheme of things. He had all the physical pleasures he could ask for, but in the end he just died crying in the dirt. The line, "No money could save him" I think points towards this interpretation somewhat clearly. He's no lucky man.

    Chard121on November 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    While I can relate to this song as something about being chances and the harsh reality of life, I think you can interpret this song as something very anti-modern. In present times, no one will go to fight for glory. This seems for the most people just stupid. But there where other times when you did go to battle to earn something, and make some experiences, that are just worth living, even if you'll die in these events eventually. So to me, "Lucky Man" is about that. You can read it in the lyrics, if you like, but more importantly, it's in the music and the general more happy and melancholicly tone of it.

    Dohleon August 08, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    How is it that no one has commented before now? Is this not an awesome song? The guitar in this song is great.

    Major Valoron August 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Best on the album.

    inpraiseoffollyon September 14, 2006   Link

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