Rhythm guitarist Dave Pritchard, bass guitarist Greg Masters and drummer Roger Spencer were the core of a band initally known as Billy King and the Nightriders, then later known as Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and briefly as just The Nightriders.
In 1966 they advertised for a new guitarist/vocalist, Jeff Lynne applied and joined the band. After releasing one single they changed their name to Idle Race. Under Jeff Lynne's leadership they released two albums that sold poorly, despite support from John Peel and Kenny Everett.
In 1970, Jeff Lynne decided to join The Move so he and Roy Wood could work on what would eventually become Electric Light Orchestra
The remaining members of The Idle Race recruited 2 new members and released one further album. After Greg Masters left the group they became The Steve Gibbons Band.
Lucky Man
The Idle Race Lyrics
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I've lost the key to my front door
I can't get in there anymore, oh my
I've lost the key to my love's heart
It's down the drain and in the dark, oh my
I'm very lucky I think you'll agree
As I was riding home from work
I saw a robber steal a shirt, oh my
I shouted "oi!" and yelled "stop! thief!"
The policeman booked me for disturbing the peace, oh my
I'm very lucky I think you'll agree
As I was swimming in the sea
I came across a bomb or three, oh my
I took them to the coastguard man
Who said "hurry up and get th...", oh my
I'm very lucky I think you'll agree
I've lost the key to my front door
I can't get in there anymore, oh my
I've lost the key to my love's heart
It's down the drain and in the dark, oh my
I'm very lucky I think you'll agree
The Idle Race's song "Lucky Man" is a humorous and ironic take on the idea of luck. The song begins with the singer stating that they are lucky, despite losing the key to both their front door and their love's heart. The repetition of the phrase "oh my" emphasizes the ridiculousness of the situations presented. The singer then goes on to describe three more situations in which they encounter bad luck: witnessing a theft and being wrongly accused, discovering bombs while swimming, and being interrupted by a coastguard. Despite all of these unfortunate events, the singer maintains that they are lucky.
The irony of the song lies in the juxtaposition of the singer's claims of luck with the absurdity of the situations they describe. By presenting situations that are clearly not lucky, the song pokes fun at the idea of luck in general. The song also highlights the inherently subjective nature of luck - what one person might see as bad luck, another might view as fortunate.
Overall, "Lucky Man" is a lighthearted and humorous song that challenges traditional notions of luck. Through the use of irony and absurd situations, the song asks listeners to reconsider what it means to be lucky.
Line by Line Meaning
I've lost the key to my front door
I am unable to enter my own home due to the loss of my front door key
I can't get in there anymore, oh my
The inability to enter my home has caused me to feel frustrated and helpless
I've lost the key to my love's heart
I have been rejected or ignored by the person I love, leaving me feeling lost and hopeless
It's down the drain and in the dark, oh my
The love I once had is now gone and inaccessible to me, hidden away in a dark, unreachable place
As I was riding home from work
During my commute home from work, an unusual or unexpected event occurred
I saw a robber steal a shirt, oh my
I witnessed a robbery take place that appeared trivial and not worth the criminal's efforts
I shouted 'oi!' and yelled 'stop! thief!'
I attempted to intervene and put a stop to the robbery by calling out to the thief
The policeman booked me for disturbing the peace, oh my
My attempts to stop the robbery were misinterpreted as a disturbance of peace and resulted in my own legal trouble
As I was swimming in the sea
During my recreational activity of swimming in the ocean
I came across a bomb or three, oh my
I encountered several explosive devices while swimming, causing fear and panic within me
I took them to the coastguard man
I sought assistance from a trained professional in dealing with the dangerous items I found
Who said 'hurry up and get th...', oh my
The urgency required in disposing of the bombs was made clear to me by the coastguard man
I'm very lucky I think you'll agree
Despite the negative events and experiences I've encountered, I still consider myself fortunate overall
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.