<P> The origin of the song, as stated by Greg Lake in interviews, is that it was the first song he wrote, when his mother bought him a guitar at the age of 12 . With the first chords he learned (D, A minor, E minor, and G), he wrote an acoustic version of the song . The song came to be used on Emerson, Lake & Palmer's debut album when they needed one more song . Greg played the version he had written from childhood, and the rest of the band did not like it, or feel it would fit . Lake then worked on it in the studio with Carl Palmer . Lake added numerous overdubs of bass, triple - tracked acoustic guitars, electric guitar, and harmony vocals until it sounded like a record . This version of the song is featured on the deluxe edition, it has a second electric guitar solo in place of where Emerson would later overdub his Moog solo . Keith Emerson was impressed enough to feel he could contribute . He used his newly purchased Moog synthesizer to experiment and come up with the now famous Moog solo at the end of the song, which was recorded in one take . </P> <P> Unlike several songs on the album, which use a distorted fuzz bass to sound like a guitar, "Lucky Man" is an acoustic ballad . The lyrics tell the story of a man who had everything, went to war, and died . A Moog synthesizer solo, recorded in one take, is performed by Keith Emerson at the end of song, making it one of the first rock compositions in which a Moog was a featured solo instrument . The solo begins as an ominous drone on a low D before leaping up two octaves and using the glide control throughout . </P> <P> When asked in an interview if he felt "lucky" to have written the song, Lake responded: </P> <P> I did write "Lucky Man" when I was 12 . My mum bought me a guitar and I was very lucky in that sense, the answer was yes instead of no . There was the first bit of luck because had the answer been no, my life would have probably been totally different . I got the guitar and I learned the first four chords that were D, G, A Minor and E Minor and with those chords I wrote "Lucky Man". I truly cannot remember everything about writing it other than I think it struck me as being a sort of minstrel type of event with these chords, G, D, E Minor and A Minor, gave me this sort of minstrel feeling . "Lucky Man" has kind of an almost medieval element tone to it . It is like a medieval folk song in a way . That was the essence of the idea . I wrote the song in its entirety and I finished it and I remembered it . As far as its significance regarding me and how lucky I was, I suppose it does really . You cannot disassociate the tune, the song has been very lucky for me . It came about because of a piece of good fortune, which was my mother giving me the guitar and it has been lucky for me ever since . I would say if I was going to be honest, I have been very lucky in life . I certainly have been . </P>

The song lucky man by emerson lake and palmer