How Lucky You Are

Written by: David Bowie
Recorded: 1971
Producers: David Bowie, Ken Scott

Unreleased

Personnel

David Bowie: vocals, guitar
Mick Ronson: guitar
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Rick Wakeman: piano
Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: drums

‘How Lucky You Are’ is a song written by David Bowie prior to the Hunky Dory sessions. It is sometimes known as ‘Miss Peculiar’, after a line in the chorus.

It was likely written in late 1970. On 4 January 1971, Laurence Myers, acting on behalf of Bowie’s manager Tony Defries, sent a demo of ‘How Lucky You Are to Tom Jones’ manager Gordon Mills, in the hope that the Welsh singer would record it.

Jones and Mills did not take up the offer, but in April 1971 Bowie made another recording, this time multitracked with piano, bass guitar, and drums. Backing vocals were by male escort Mickey King, who also sang on ‘Rupert The Riley’.

‘How Lucky You Are’ was shortlisted ahead of the Hunky Dory sessions, and a second full band version was recorded at Trident Studios, with Rick Wakeman on piano.

The song was mixed and mastered by Ryko in 1989, but was not included in the Sound + Vision box set or as a bonus track on the Hunky Dory reissue.

Lyrics

When you speak you speak to me
When you sleep you sleep by me
When you wake you wake with me
When you walk you follow two steps behind in life

Shadows stalking, ever grasping sinking for a need
It wasn’t love it was the fix of never wanting me
Now I’m gone, you’re tossing and you turning in your sleep
That’s the name of the game, of the game, of the game

Cry, miss peculiar
You’ll cry all the more, now I’m gone
I was the monkey on your back
Take a look at how lucky you are

When you speak you speak to me
When you sleep you sleep by me
When you wake you wake with me
When you walk you follow two steps behind

Cry, cry, miss peculiar
You’ll cry all the more, now I’m gone
I was the monkey on your back
Take a look at how lucky you are

Some days are heaven, I will not deny
Probing the daylight cascading the skyline
Tripping and diving and losing it all
Back came the night time living for more

Cry, cry, miss peculiar
You’ll cry all the more, now that I’m gone
I was the devil monkey on your back
Take a look at how lucky you are

When you speak you speak to me
When you sleep you sleep by me
When you wake you wake with me
When you walk you follow two steps behind

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