Lucky Man
Greg Lake Feat Gary Moore Lyrics

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

Ooh, 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Lucky Man" by Greg Lake is a reflection on the brevity of life and the fleeting moments of happiness that one may experience before passing away. The singer of the song is wealthy and privileged, with white horses and ladies in satin by his side. He lives a life of luxury, surrounded by white lace and feathers, and sleeps on a gold-covered mattress. However, his life is cut short when he dies on the battlefield. The lyrics convey a sense of loss and regret for the things the singer will never experience again, such as the love of his ladies and the beauty of his possessions.

The central message of "Lucky Man" is that life can end abruptly and without warning, even for those who seem to have it all. The chorus, "Ooh, what a lucky man he was," is a ironic statement, implying that material wealth and external validation do not necessarily equate to true happiness or fulfillment. The singer's honor and glory are reduced to the people's singing, and ultimately, he dies alone and helpless. The song serves as a commentary on the fragile nature of life and the importance of cherishing the moments that truly matter.

Line by Line Meaning

He had white horses
He had the privilege of owning valuable possessions

And ladies by the score
He was surrounded by a lot of women

All dressed in satin
The women he was surrounded with were well-dressed

And waiting by the door
The women were eagerly waiting to meet him

Ooh, what a lucky man he was
He considered himself fortunate with his life's events

White lace and feathers
Luxurious materials that made up his bed

They made up his bed
He rested on an extravagant bed

A gold covered mattress
His bed had a mattress with a gold cover

On which he was laid
He used to sleep on that bed

He went to fight wars
He joined the army to fight in wars

For his country and his king
His patriotism was the reason he went to war