If it is down and haggard Bruce you are looking for, then you have come to the right place. This is the title track from Bruce’s second of the double release albums Human Touch / Lucky Town. The more stripped down, folk-based sound on the Lucky Town record is my preferred of the two and contains many excellent songs including today’s. The song Lucky Town is the second song on the record after Better Days and the fourth song from the record presented here.
When this song was released, it failed to chart, which surprised me to read that, but I think Lucky Town (The song) captures Bruce at his rudimentary best. I like his worn voice and no-nonsense approach. It’s not a dolled-up Bruce, let’s just say that. I think time will treat it kindly. I have heard this song for more than 30 years and I never grow tired of it. It’s really good stuff and even though I was apprehensive and condescending of these records when they came out, I’m not now.
[Verse 1]
House got too crowded, clothes got too tight
And I don’t know just where I’m going tonight
Out where the sky’s been cleared by a good hard rain
There’s somebody callin’ my secret name
[Chorus]
I’m going down to Lucky Town
Going down to Lucky Town
I wanna lose these blues I’ve found
Down in Lucky Town
Baby, down in Lucky Town
[Verse 2]
Had a coat of fine leather and snakeskin boots
But that coat always had a thread hangin’ too loose
Well, I pulled it one night and to my surprise
It led me right past your house and on over the rise
Lucky Town is the tenth studio album by Bruce Springsteen. The album was released on March 31, 1992, the same day as Springsteen’s Human Touch album. I agree with the The Chicago Tribune who wrote that Lucky Town was “highly underrated…containing some of the strongest songwriting of Springsteen’s career and ranks as one of his most completely realized albums.” I even underestimated it going into this music project. I have realised over time there are just so many great songs on it, including my personal favourites:
- Better Days
- Lucky Town
- If I Should Fall Behind
- Leap of Faith
- Living Proof
- Beautiful Reward
Lucky Town focuses on more specific events in Springsteen’s life. It is an ambitious collection addressing many of Springsteen’s major concerns and moving on forward. He discussed in this interview about making Lucky Town and Human Touch.
Bill Wyman of The Chicago Reader compared it favorably to Human Touch, calling Lucky Town “obviously the superior work” and “a much more interesting beast, primarily because of the potency of the first three numbers [which] could have made a respectable anchor to a strong album.“
Reference:
1. Lucky Town – Wikipedia
2. Lucky Town (Song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
One of my favorite songs of that period…he did have some good ones off of those albums… I still think he could have had a great single album.
Before, I could take or leave this song, now I’m a huge fan. I can’t get enough of it. I agree on the single album which Rolling Stone suggested. It would have been on oar with his best.
I still listen to them…but at the time I bought both albums and made a mix tape of the best songs off both….so I did have a single album lol.
That’s a good idea. I have my favourites from both in my library too. I meant to ask you if you had heard the following two songs which I can’t stop listening to. If you have ten minutes free, check em out buddy
1. Eclectic Music Lover posted this song called Elastic from Chief Springs. It’s like a mix between ‘The War on Drugs’ and Sam Fender.
2. Sharon sent me this from Benjamin Grossman called Husband and Wife. Love it!
Cheers
Ok…when I get a short break here at work I’ll listen and reply Matt.
Alrighty Max, have a good day at work!
I like The War On Drugs…that one I remember from Jeff’s site…
The other one I don’t remember…but I do like the bare bones feeling of it an their lyrics
Their song ‘Pain’ is one of the best things I’ve heard this century.
Cool. Never heard this song, actually. It’s good. Like how you describe his voice as “worn” with “no-nonsense approach.” I guess it shows how music is about feeling just as much as perfect pitch and tone. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Benjamin. It’s a song and a record which has grown a lot on me over the years. I agree with your feedback about ‘ feeling’ and conviction. The lyrics here are great too, as well as the instrumentals and melody. Thanks so much for commenting. It means a lot.
Welcome. Keep sharing your passions. Many people can connect with that. Cheers!
Thanks Benjamin. It’s been great being able to chat with you. Cheers.
I also really like “Local Hero” on this album.
Like the ‘Title Song’ Lucky Town is too good in and of itself. If people don’t get it then that’s their problem