Raised in Burlington, Vermont, Thibaud moved to Boston in 1987 to master his craft and pursue his dream. "When I first got there, the music scene was mostly alternative rock and more hardcore stuff. I would get mislabeled as a 'Country Act', but by the 1990's it diversified and there was room for more rootsy Americana stuff."
Todd's songs are a slice of what life is really like...the pains and pleasures, love lost and life reborn. Thibaud recorded two critically lauded albums for Doolittle Records, 1998's Favorite Waste of Time (produced by Bostonian musician Kevin Salem) and 1999's Little Mystery. Using songwriters like Elvis Costello, Neil Finn, and John Hiatt for inspiration, Thibaud built a sound that is entirely his own.
Lucky Town
Todd Thibaud Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't know where I'm going tonight
Out where the sky's been cleared by a good hard rain
There's somebody calling my secret name
Going down to Lucky Town
Down to Lucky Town
Wanna lose these blues I've found
Baby, down in Lucky Town
Had a coat of fine leather and snakeskin boots
But that coat always had a thread hanging loose
Yeah, I pulled it one night and to my surprise
It led me right past your house and over the rise
Going down to Lucky Town
Down to Lucky Town
Wanna lose these blues I've found
Down in Lucky Town
Baby, down in Lucky Town
Well, I had some victories, just failure in deceit
Now the joke's coming up through the soles of my feet
Spent a long time on fortune's cane
Tonight, I'm stepping lightly and feeling no pain
Well, here's to your good looks, baby, here's to my health
Here's to the loaded places that we take ourselves
When it comes to luck, we make our own
Tonight, I got dirt on my hands building me a new home
Take me down to Lucky Town
Down to Lucky Town
Wanna lose these blues I've found
Down in Lucky Town
Baby, down in Lucky Town
Going down to Lucky Town
Down to Lucky Town
Wanna lose these blues I've found
Down in Lucky Town
Baby, down in Lucky Town
In Todd Thibaud's song Lucky Town, the singer expresses his desire to leave behind the troubles and limitations of his current life by heading down to "Lucky Town". He feels that his house has become too crowded and his clothes too tight, a metaphor for feeling trapped and constrained by his current circumstances. The image of the sky being cleared by a hard rain is a symbol of a fresh start, and he feels that there is someone calling to him to take this chance and start anew.
The singer's journey to Lucky Town involves shedding his old identity, including his fancy clothing and accessories. He discovers that this coat, which was supposed to be a symbol of success and achievement, has a flaw that leads him to the doorstep of someone who may be able to offer him a way out. There is a sense of humility and vulnerability in this realization, as the singer acknowledges that his past triumphs have been overshadowed by his failures and deceit.
However, the singer is optimistic that he can make his own luck in Lucky Town, fully embracing the idea that we create our own fortunes. He celebrates the freedom that comes from letting go of past mistakes and limitations, and looks forward to building a new life for himself. Overall, the song is a testament to the power of new beginnings and the possibility of creating a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
House got too crowded, clothes got too tight
Crowded and restricted in the current lifestyle; feeling caged in with nowhere to go.
And I don't know where I'm going tonight
Feeling lost and not sure what lies ahead for the future.
Out where the sky's been cleared by a good hard rain
Being able to move beyond the current circumstances and start anew.
There's somebody calling my secret name
Feeling drawn towards something/someone that is calling to them in a profound way.
Had a coat of fine leather and snakeskin boots
Displaying a lavish and high-end lifestyle.
But that coat always had a thread hanging loose
A hint that everything is not as perfect as it seems.
Yeah, I pulled it one night and to my surprise
Uncovering something surprising that was previously hidden.
It led me right past your house and over the rise
Finding a new path or direction that leads them away from their current life.
Well, I had some victories, just failure in deceit
Having experienced some successes in life, but also dealing with deceit and failures along the way.
Now the joke's coming up through the soles of my feet
Feeling the consequences of past actions and mistakes.
Spent a long time on fortune's cane
Having been reliant on luck or chance in the past, without taking control of their own destiny.
Tonight, I'm stepping lightly and feeling no pain
Feeling liberated and free from the burdens of their past, ready to move forward with a clear mind.
When it comes to luck, we make our own
Believing that success and good fortune can be created through one's own hard work and choices.
Well, here's to your good looks, baby, here's to my health
Toasting to the good things in life, both physical appearance and personal wellbeing.
Here's to the loaded places that we take ourselves
Acknowledging the fact that humans often create their own problems and difficulties in life.
Tonight, I got dirt on my hands building me a new home
Starting fresh and creating a new life from scratch, willing to put in the hard work to make it happen.
Take me down to Lucky Town
Desiring a change of scenery and a new start in life, ready to move on and leave the past behind.
Wanna lose these blues I've found
Looking to move beyond the sadness and negativity of their current situation.
Baby, down in Lucky Town
A call to action, ready to take the steps necessary to start a new life in a better place.
Contributed by Penelope H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.