14 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
The Lucky One Lyrics
New to town with a made up name in the angel city, chasing fortune and fame
And the camera flashes, make it look like a dream
You had it figured out since you were in school
Everybody loves pretty, everybody loves cool
So over night, you look like a sixties queen
Another name goes up in lights
Like diamonds in the sky
And they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
But can you tell me now, you're the lucky one?
Oh, oh, oh
Now it's big black cars and Riviera views
And your lover in the foyer doesn't even know you
And your secrets end up, splashed on the news front page
And they tell you that you're lucky but you're so confused
'Cause you don't feel pretty, you just feel used
And all the young things line up to take your place
Another name goes up in lights
You wonder if you'll make it out alive
And they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Can you tell me now, you're the lucky one?
Oh, oh, oh
It was a few years later, I showed up here
And they still tell the legend of how you disappeared
You took the money and your dignity and got the hell out
They say you bought a bunch of land somewhere
Chose the rose garden over Madison Square
And it took some time but I understand it now
'Cause now my name is up in lights
But I think you got it right
Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one
Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one
Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one
Oh, oh, oh
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Can you tell me now, you're the lucky one?
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
And the camera flashes, make it look like a dream
You had it figured out since you were in school
Everybody loves pretty, everybody loves cool
So over night, you look like a sixties queen
Another name goes up in lights
Like diamonds in the sky
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
But can you tell me now, you're the lucky one?
Oh, oh, oh
And your lover in the foyer doesn't even know you
And your secrets end up, splashed on the news front page
And they tell you that you're lucky but you're so confused
'Cause you don't feel pretty, you just feel used
And all the young things line up to take your place
Another name goes up in lights
You wonder if you'll make it out alive
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Can you tell me now, you're the lucky one?
Oh, oh, oh
And they still tell the legend of how you disappeared
You took the money and your dignity and got the hell out
Chose the rose garden over Madison Square
And it took some time but I understand it now
'Cause now my name is up in lights
But I think you got it right
Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one
Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one
Oh, oh, oh
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Can you tell me now, you're the lucky one?
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Just for the record, Taylor Swift became close to the Kennedy family recently, including Ethel, the former President's sister-in-law. The Rose Garden is a place at the White House. Madison Square Garden is where Marilyn Monroe, who was having an affair with President Kennedy, sang a sort of seductive rendition of "Happy Birthday" to him, which is now more infamous because of what we know of Kennedy and Monroe. The line "chose the Rose Garden over Madison Square", could possibly be contrasting First Lady Jackie Kennedy and Monroe.
Interestingly, the first verse reads like the it's about Monroe, with the "made-up name" (Monroe's birth name was Norma Jeane Mortensen), and the allusions to beauty and popularity.The last verse, which references that she is now where the subject of the song was (around the Kennedy family), feels more like it's about Jackie, who did by and large separate herself from that life when she married Aristotle Onassis. The middle verse could reflect both of them as they failed to hold the President's attention. Jackie felt this way because he was an infamous womanizer, and Marilyn felt this way because he refused to leave his wife for her.
It's probably something more simple, like Joni Mitchell or whatever others are talking about, but the Kennedy connection is always interesting to bring up.
what a crap analogy
what a crap analogy
This song is all about how being famous looks so good from the ground, but when you finally are famous its not at all what you thought it would be. When everyone says your so lucky to be famous your confused because you feel its more of a curse then a blessing
This song sounds a lot like her admiring a fellow star for getting out of music and focusing on herself and starting a new life. The song title itself hinted for me that it might be about Faith Hill, a country singer who is currently flying under the radar in country music to focus on her family. One of Faith's more recent singles before she took some time off was "The Lucky One" and she changed her name when she got famous as the song suggests. So, maybe Taylor Swift admires her for that and wishes for the day she can take a break to focus on a family? Just a thought. I can see how it could be about several different stars as well, she just paints the picture so well.
I think it's about Joni Mitchell, since she's a big inspiration to Taylor.
Favorite song off "Red". Whether or not Taylor is trying to paint a picture of her future (getting out of the business) or she's describing another singer who's already got their Rose Garden over Madison Square... I can just see it all so clearly. She paints the picture so well. l personally think it isn't about any one person in particular... Maybe a mix of several sources of inspiration. In any case, I love this song, it's wonderful.
Yes, definitely one of the better songs of her new album. It's not just another one of her break-up/love songs. It's really about making a choice and the consequences that your decisions entail. When you choose something, you do it with the knowledge of foregoing something for what YOU think is better. It's got a good tempo and fun tune too; I love it.
Would the "Rose Garden over Madison Square" reference be related to Lynn Anderson's "(I never promised you a) Rose Garden"? Since Lynn Anderson lives in Nashville it could be seen as Taylor picking up similarities between them?
Would the "Rose Garden over Madison Square" reference be related to Lynn Anderson's "(I never promised you a) Rose Garden"? Since Lynn Anderson lives in Nashville it could be seen as Taylor picking up similarities between them?
i think that to some extent, this song is sort of directed to herself, the second verse if what she now feels is the price of her fame, "And your lover in the foyer doesn't even know you" i think is talking about herself. most of her songs are about heartbreaks anyway so i think it fits. the last verse about buying land somewhere and quitting i feel is how she sees her future, it's not forever. so, she may have been the lucky one since her name is now in lights, but again, she now feels that those who have left the business for a quiet life are the true lucky ones at the end of the day.
This Country-styled story-song represents a rare excursion outside of first-person usage for Swift as she tells a Hollywood cautionary tale about a star who ditches celebrity for a simpler life. Many fans have speculated that the song is at least partly about Folk-Pop legend Joni Mitchell, who has virtually retired from her recording career. Taylor sings of the starlet having a "made up name" (Mitchell's real name is Roberta Joan Anderson) and "looking like a sixties' queen", (her debut album was released in 1968). In addition at the time of the release of Red, Swift was cited to play Mitchell in her biopic.