Lucky
Taylor Swift Lyrics


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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 overnight 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, oooh

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, ooh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, ooh, oh-oh-ooh

It was a few years later
I showed up here
And they still tell the legend of how you disappeared
How 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, oooh

Yeah they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Yeah, they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one




And they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh-uh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

“The Lucky One” by Taylor Swift is a thoughtful meditation on the costs of fame and the toll that chasing success can take on an individual’s life. The lyrics describe the story of a young woman who arrived in Los Angeles with dreams of stardom and chased them until she reached the top of her game. She was initially thrilled with the attention, but high society parties and the glare of paparazzi cameras soon became overwhelming. She was unable to maintain genuine relationships and felt used by those seeking to take her place. Eventually, she disappeared from the public eye, retreating to a simpler life that allowed her to find happiness away from the spotlight.


Swift wrote the song about the industry pressures and sacrifices she faced early in her career, as well as about other celebrities who have famously crashed and burned due to their struggles with fame, including Billie Holiday, Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean. The song served as a warning to young up-and-coming celebrities to be careful not to lose themselves in the promise of fame and fortune.


Overall, “The Lucky One” is a commentary on how being in the public eye can be both a blessing and a curse, highlighting the pressure and isolation that famous individuals can feel when everyone is watching them.


Line by Line Meaning

New to town with a made up name
Taylor is describing the beginning of the story of a person who moves to a new city, possibly Hollywood, with a fake name to reinvent themselves.


In the Angel city, chasing fortune and fame
The person moves to Los Angeles, also known as the City of Angels, to pursue success and recognition in the entertainment industry.


And the camera flashes, make it look like a dream
As the person starts to achieve fame, they get used to the attention of the paparazzi and media, but it's a distorted reality that doesn't represent their true life.


You had it figured out since you were in school
The person always knew they wanted to be famous and the center of attention from a young age, possibly due to their parents' influence or their own dreams.


Everybody loves pretty, everybody loves cool
The entertainment industry values beauty, charisma, and a certain type of talent that the person possesses, which makes them well-liked and popular.


So overnight you look like a sixties' queen
The person's image is transformed by stylists, makeup artists, and designers to resemble a famous icon of the 60s era, possibly Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, or Twiggy.


Another name goes up in lights
The person's name becomes well-known and prominent due to their success.


Like diamonds in the sky
The person's fame and fortune shine brightly, like diamonds in the sky, but they are also fragile and elusive.


And they'll tell you now, you're the lucky one
Other people acknowledge and envy the person's success and imagine that they are lucky to have achieved it.


But can you tell me now, you're the lucky one, oh, oh, oooh
Taylor questions whether the person feels truly lucky or fulfilled by their fame, or if it's just an illusion that masks their inner struggles and doubts.


Now it's big black cars, and Riviera views
The person's lifestyle becomes luxurious and extravagant, with expensive cars and a house overlooking the ocean in the French Riviera.


And your lover in the foyer doesn't even know you
Despite having a romantic partner, the person feels lonely and disconnected from them due to their busy schedule and public persona.


And your secrets end up splashed on the news front page
The person's privacy is invaded by the media, who reveal their personal life and scandals to the public without their consent.


But you're so confused
The person is uncertain about their feelings and identity, as their image is controlled by others and they struggle to maintain a sense of self.


'Cause you don't feel pretty
Despite being praised for their beauty by others, the person doesn't feel confident or attractive in their own eyes.


You just feel used
The person feels exploited and trapped by their fame, as if they were a product or a commodity that others benefit from.


And all the young things line up to take your place
The person sees a younger generation of performers and models who are eager to replace them and outshine them, adding to their sense of insecurity and competition.


I showed up here
Taylor refers to herself, as if she is a character in the person's story.


And they still tell the legend of how you disappeared
The person disappears from the public eye and stops performing, as if they wanted to escape the pressures and expectations of their career, but their legacy still influences others.


How you took the money and your dignity, and got the hell out
The person decides to leave the entertainment industry with their wealth and self-respect intact, as they realize that fame and fortune are not worth sacrificing their values and sanity.


They say you bought a bunch of land somewhere
The person invests their money in buying property and creating a private retreat away from the crowds and scrutiny of their past life.


Chose the Rose Garden over Madison Square
The person values nature, beauty, and solitude more than fame, as they prefer to cultivate roses in their garden rather than perform at Madison Square Garden.


And it took some time, but I understand it now
Taylor realizes the person's motivations and perspective, as she muses on the challenges and illusions of fame and the importance of finding one's own path and identity.


But I think you got it right
Taylor admires and respects the person's decision to leave the entertainment industry and pursue a simpler, more meaningful life.


Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one
Taylor affirms that the person's success and happiness lie not in their fame, but in their freedom to choose their destiny and purpose in life.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Taylor Alison Swift

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@oliviaalee

THE OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAM IS CHEFS KISS

@zoefoley6818

yess

@robinskull

Taylor Swift is tra$h. My music is way better...

@m_cressida5603

@@robinskull why are you here then?🙄

@jocelynw6405

Why do I keep on associating the movie Last Night in Soho with The Lucky One?! I swear Swift sings from Sandy's perspective!

@Lily-1713

@@robinskull stop commenting this on Taylor’s videos

15 More Replies...

@KatieTracy

ok but taylor is absolutely gorgeous in this

@robinskull

Taylor Swift is tra$h. My music is way better....

@riripeaches

Even u get excited for red

@shelleeeee

@@robinskull and yet you're here

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