Lucky Man: Was it JFK?

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

1970. Emerson Lake and Palmer. The official debut of the Moog Synthesizer. Ring a bell anyone?

I’ve had an itch to do a music blog and this is it. Be glad I picked ELP because I was going to do Eleanor Rigby, “wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door.” Oh wow man. The Lucky Man YouTube is below in case you want to listen while you read. It’s a beautiful song.

I was fourteen years old when Lucky Man came out. My parents and all their friends were big fans of President John F. Kennedy. So I naturally thought the song was about him. And Camelot.

He had white horses. And ladies by the score, all dressed in satin and waiting by the door. Ooooh, what a lucky man he was. Ooooh, what a lucky man he was.

Yes, I knew the scandalous details of the Marilyn Monroe tryst in 1962. Everybody did. Even Jackie. But everyone liked “Jack” anyway. I think an 18-year-old Bill Clinton took notice. Happy Birthday Mr. President.

Everybody knew Kennedy played touch football in the backyard with his brothers Bobby, Teddy, and I forget the others. We loved that about him. We also loved that he served in WWII on the torpedo boat PT-109.

He went to fight wars for his country and his king. Of his honor and his glory the people would sing. Ooooh, what a lucky man he was.

Lucky indeed. But it didn’t last.

A bullet had found him. His blood ran as he cried. No money could save him. So he laid down and he died. Ooooh, what a lucky man he was.

I will never forget the funeral. The horse-drawn cassion and flag-draped casket. And 3-year-old John-John’s salute.

White lace and feathers, they made up his bed. A gold covered mattress on which he was laid. Ooooh, what a lucky man he was.

I don’t know if John F. Kennedy was a great president. And I don’t know who killed him or why. But one thing’s for sure—he had quite a life.

I’m not a big fan of most presidents. But who am I to judge? So today, along with our nation, I celebrate their great commitment and success throughout American history.

Was JFK The Lucky Man? No. I discovered the truth at Wikipedia. Greg Lake wrote the lyrics to Lucky Man in 1959 as a 12-year-old Brit and Kennedy hadn’t even been elected yet. The song wasn’t about JFK at all.

Happy Presidents Day anyway!

Jay_the_Optimist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im2lYDnDdIU

Hey Bob – I wanted to post a song that was actually written about JFK. The song is “The Crucifixion” by Phil Ochs. Phil got to play it for Bobby Kennedy before Bobby followed his brother in the cycle of sacrifice. Hope you like it.
- http://BobBevington.com/ Bob Bevington
  
  Wow. Very cool. Thanks Jay.
Darleen Grimsley

Maybe we could put President Reagan as a lucky man. He was awesome! To bad we don’t have as Pres. again.
- http://BobBevington.com/ Bob Bevington
  
  Gotta admit it- I was a fan of Ronnie. A lot of people were back then. I think his legacy has been a good one, too.
Darleen Grimsley

I think any of the Kennedy’s were all that Luckey. Two were assainated. Ted had a issue of a women found dead. One of the sons had a battle of cancer or cousin. Also Teddy died of brain tumor I believe. One died in a plane crash. Sounds like they were unlucky to me. That is a great song. I might put Jesus Christ in there. He was the Lucky man. He died for all our sins. How Lucky are we. Then I don’t believe in luck. I call that a Praise the Lord!
- http://BobBevington.com/ Bob Bevington
  
  Lots of good comments. Thanks Darleen!