Lucky You
The National Lyrics


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Every time you get a drink
And every time you go to sleep
All those dreams inside your head
Is there sunlight on your bed
And every time you're driving home
Way outside your safety zone
Wherever you will ever be
You're never getting rid of me

You own me
There's nothing you can do
You own me

You coulda made the safer bet
But what you break is what you get
You wake up in the bed you make
I think you made a big mistake

You own me
There's nothing you can do
You own me
You own me
Lucky you

You own me
There's nothing you can do

You clean yourself to meet
The man who isn't me
You're putting on a shirt
A shirt I'll never see
The letter's in your coat
But no one's in your head
'Cause you're too smart to remember
You're too smart
Lucky you





Lucky you
Lucky you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The National's song "Lucky You" explore themes of obsession and possessiveness. The singer is addressing someone who they feel has a hold over them and cannot be rid of them. The lyrics suggest that this is not a healthy or desired situation but something that is beyond control. Every time the subject goes to sleep or has a drink, the singer is there in their mind, consuming their thoughts. The repetition of "you own me" throughout the song emphasizes this possession and the sense of loss of control.


The lyrics hint at a romantic relationship between the two, with the subject cleaning themselves to meet another man and putting on a shirt that the singer will never see. However, the relationship seems to be one-sided, with the singer being obsessed with the subject, while the subject may not even be aware. The line "wherever you will ever be, you're never getting rid of me" reveals the extent that the singer is willing to go to remain in control of the situation. The haunting melody and slow tempo of the song further emphasize the sense of unease and obsession.


Line by Line Meaning

Every time you get a drink
Whenever you indulge yourself with a drink


And every time you go to sleep
Each time you sleep or rest


All those dreams inside your head
The dreams that lurk inside your mind


Is there sunlight on your bed
Are you able to get a ray of hope in your life


And every time you're driving home
Whenever you head back to your comfort zone


Way outside your safety zone
Traveling into unfamiliar or dangerous areas


Wherever you will ever be
No matter where you go or what you do


You're never getting rid of me
I will always be with you, no matter what you do


You own me
You have complete control over me


There's nothing you can do
There is no way to change the situation


You own me
You have complete control over me


You coulda made the safer bet
You could have chosen a more secure path


But what you break is what you get
The consequences of your actions are what you receive


You wake up in the bed you make
The outcomes of your choices are reflected in your life


I think you made a big mistake
I believe that you have made a significant error in judgment


You clean yourself to meet
You get ready to meet someone


The man who isn't me
The person you are about to meet is not me


You're putting on a shirt
You are getting dressed


A shirt I'll never see
I will never know what you are wearing


The letter's in your coat
You have a letter in your coat


But no one's in your head
No one knows what you are thinking


'Cause you're too smart to remember
You are intentionally forgetting things to appear smarter


You're too smart
You are intelligent and cunning


Lucky you
You have luck on your side


Lucky you
How fortunate you are to have luck on your side




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Matthew Donald Berninger, Aaron Brooking Dessner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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