Do you believe in luck? The power of the world working for or against you? The idea of luck, particularly good luck, is often associated with the month of March because of St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick’s Day (in case you aren’t familiar) is a holiday to celebrate Irish culture and St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. So how does luck get into the mix? Well, legends say that St. Patrick used a three-leaf clover/shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity. Some shamrocks can grow four leaves, and this rare four-leaf clover is a sign of good luck. There are lots of songs out there about the power of luck (both good and bad), so in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve got 7 songs (because 7 is considered a lucky number, of course) that are about luck to get you feeling festive...maybe even the urge to put on a little green to avoid getting pinched by a leprechaun :)
“Lucky” - Britney Spears
What can one do when they seemingly have everything, but they still cry every night? That’s what early-era Britney Spears’ song “Lucky” is all about. A girl named Lucky has it all, but she still cries “in her lonely heart, thinking if there’s nothing missing in my life, then why do these tears come at night?” Why, indeed. This Spears song looks at luck as both a blessing and a curse. Having good luck to get the things you want doesn’t always immediately mean a person is happy yet on the surface, things look perfect, so few have pity for how the person is feeling. Yes, I’m analyzing a Britney song. The girl’s work has depth if you truly look!
“Lucky” - Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz
This next track about luck is far more positive, speaking of the absolute serendipitious luck of being in love with your best friend. That level of luck is not always common, even though it’s a common phrase people use to describe their partners these days. To have one’s partner truly be their best friend and confidante is a treasure, a person who “make[s] it easier when life gets hard.” If you can relate to that lucky feeling of being in love with your best friend “in every way” or you dream of meeting that person one day, this sentimental love song is a great song to put in your lucky playlist.
“Get Lucky” - Daft Punk
There are all kinds of ways that luck can manifest. Sometimes, it’s through physical belongings, sometimes it’s finding someone you love, and sometimes, it’s getting some at the end of a night out. Daft Punk takes the common term “get lucky” to describe the goal for the end of the night out at the club. While she’s “up all night for good fun” he’s “up all night to get lucky.” And if you’re confused why he’s up all night, they’ll tell you another 51 times (yes, I counted). So, if you’re going out to drink with friends for St. Paddy’s Day, this Daft Punk track is a good vibe to pump up the group.
“The Lucky One” - Taylor Swift
This Taylor Swift track is similar to Britney Spears’ song, in that it talks about how people are seen as lucky when they rise to fame, all the attention and love on them, forgetting that it’s not always all love. Being famous also means a loss of privacy, parasocial relationships with fans, and constant surveillance, just to name a few downsides to fame. Lyrics say, “And your secrets end up splashed on the news front page/And they tell you that you're lucky, but you're so confused.” When a person becomes famous, they’re expected to be grateful at all times because they’re so lucky to have a life of luxury, but they are still human beings like everyone else and they deserve decency. Many associate fame with good luck, but as we see from this list, that isn’t always true.
“The Luckiest” - Ben Folds
This Ben Folds track is about being lucky in love. It’s about finding true love, even if it’s for a short time. Sometimes, circumstances and elements of life can keep two people who care for each other apart, making the love short lived. But how lucky to have gotten a chance to love that person, even if it was brief. The sweet and sentimental lyrics make it a popular wedding song. And how could it not be with lyrics like, “I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.” It’s actually a pretty basic song, but the sentiment is there – the beauty of being lucky enough to be in love.
“Good Luck, Bad Luck” - Lynyrd Skynyrd
This Lynyrd Skynyrd song is all about luck, particularly how it seems so hard to keep good luck, but bad luck always finds them. “Good luck, I’m the last to get it/Bad luck, I’m the first.” The song covers both sides of the coin, capturing the feeling of both types of luck. When the luck is good, it feels like you’re on the top of the world, and when the luck is bad, it feels like it will never turn around. But ultimately the song’s final message is that one has to accept the hand they’ve been dealt and make the best of things. That’s a message many can relate to.
"Green Lights" by Aloe Blacc
This song is all about how things are going right for the singer. Every stoplight turns green when he passes. While Aloe Blacc is known for his rap, he took on a Motown feel for this song all about the blissful feeling of a day where everything is going right. The lyrics embody the special feeling crooning, “Thank my stars for every green/You have no idea what it means/To a man who's always traveling/Who's seen the things that I've seen.” Throw this on when you’re having a good day where everything’s coming up green.
This was an interesting list to pull together, especially since many of the songs found about luck reference the idea of luck being a double-edged sword. Do you think that’s true? Tell us in the comments what songs about luck speak to you! And remember to wear your green this St. Patrick’s Day 🍀
Thanks to the following resources for helping me select which songs to include on this list...
Written by Kristen Petronio
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