The Magnetic Fields - The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side

Artist: The Magnetic Fields

Song: The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side

Album: 69 Love Songs (1999)

The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side appears on the album 69 Love Songs (disc 1). The Magnetic Fields is a New York-based group, a band led by New York City singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt.

In his songs, Merritt has an affinity for the outsiders and outcasts. His protagonist in
The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side" an Irving Berlin-inspired song, is also the
Ugliest Guy on the Lower East Side, and he knows the pretty girl he loves is just using him
for a bike ride…
A beauty and the beast song, from the perspective of the beast!

"The Lower East Side is the epicenter of songwriting history in the 20th Century," says Stephin Merritt in the 69 Love Songs booklet. Which is why he lives and works there. Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, many Tin Pan Alley writers, and (more recently) John Zorn have all come from the Lower East Side, an area of Manhattan that was popular with many immigrant populations, especially Jewish radicals, early in the century.

The song has been covered by Norwegian duo, the Kings of Convenience, though their version is not on general release.

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Andy would bicycle across town
in the rain to bring you candy
and John would buy the gown
for you to wear to the prom
with Tom, the astronomer
who would name a star for you
but I’m the luckiest guy
on the lower east side
cuz i got wheels
and you want to go for a ride

harry, is the one I think you'll marry
but it's chris that you kissed after school
well I’m a fool
there's no doubt
but when the sun comes out
and only when the sun comes out
I’m the luckiest guy
on the lower east side
cuz ive got wheels
and you want to go for a ride
the day is beautiful and so are you
my car is ugly but then, im ugly too
i know you'd never give me a second glance
when the weathers nice all the other guys
don't stand a chance
i know professor ***
makes you feel like a woman
but when the wind is in your hair you laugh like a little girl
so you share secrets with lou
but we've got secrets too
well one, i only keep this heap for you
cuz im the ugliest guy on the lower east side
cuz i've got wheels
and you want to go for a ride