I for one was sure that it would be THIS song that would be the hidden track on "Across a Wire". Actually, if I'm not mistaken, Adam Duritz actually did perform it on the Storytellers show. The reason it wasn't included was supposedly because he "messed up".

The copy I have of this song is from the "Hollywood Grand" boot. It's not a very good copy at that, but never the less, the poor quality of the recording really can't hide the fact that this is a real beautiful song, I might even go as far as to say it's far superior to "Chelsea". At first, the song doesn't sound like anything outstanding, just another morose ballad along the lines of "Raining in Baltimore" or even "Chelsea". The verses go along at a reserved pace...then, out of nowhere, the chorus just comes and sweeps you away. I don't know, that's just the feeling I got.

"All the while thinking this is the good luck
he stays with her most of the time
it takes time to make these machines run,
and people are so unkind"

The song doesn't really deviate from the common themes of loneliness and sadness, however, the central focus here isn;t really Adam Duritz. I found myself really affected by the lyrics of this song....portraying the life of "some chick from L.A.". The first thing that comes to mind is a prostitute. She accompanies this guy to Vegas and the sad thing here is that she's viewed simply as an object for sex...which in the guy's mind is "just okay".

That line says a lot. She's just there as an afterthought. Many people look down on people who are involved in "seedy professions", they're viewed as "sub-human" because they would do things that "ordinary" people wouldn't do.

"Good Luck" explores this world rarely visited and uncovers "new and very real pain". You can't help but feel for the central figure when she say's "so please stay". As she does everything to make this person stay with her. She clings on to him like there's no tomorrow. When people reach a low in their life, they'll cling to anything that they hope will give their life meaning.

At this instant, she hopes that the guy is using her for "good luck" so that he'll win big. It really is such a superficial thing...likening yourself to a "rabbit's foot" or "horse shoe", but sometimes, your life can be so devoid of anything that such a "meaningless label" can become all that makes life bearable.

I'm drifting here...I know my ideas are kind of messed. But I'd like to end by saying that this song deeply affected me. Made me think about other people, "beggars", "hookers" and other less fortunate that I have been guilty of looking down upon, been guilty of "objectifying". They really aren't that different from us. And well, it just scares me when Adam stresses in the end of the song that "people are so unkind"...we really are.....