Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)

Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy

About Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)

"Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)" is a song by the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, written by guitarist Scott Gorham and bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott, and released as a single in 1982. It was the only single to be released from their 1981 album Renegade.


4:10
#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

They say people out in Hollywood
Live their life out in black and white
They're living out a Technicolor dream
Next day they're a star overnight

Not like living in New York
Man, it's tougher
Not like in London town
Boy, you suffer

Nobody give a break
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the take
When you're down on your luck
You can't make a mistake
When you're down on your luck

People out in Hollywood
They got a lot of class
You see the boys strutting down the boulevard
Trying to make a pass

Not like in New York
It's high rise, it's concrete and complex
Not like in London town
It rains down on its subjects

Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
Lady Chance, she won't dance
When you're down on your luck

People out in Hollywood
They can make it to the stars
They can reach the screen
Drive around in big expensive convertible cars

Not like in New York
All you've got is Broadway
Not like in the west end of London
You can't make it no way

Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
You've got to strut your stuff
When you're down on your luck

You can't take it easy, it ain't good enough
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the make
When you're down on your luck
Nobody give a fair deal
When you're down on your luck

Nobody understands my Uncle Sam
When you're down on your luck
I'm ready for the dance
When you're down on your luck
I gotta make a dollar holler
When you're down on your luck

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott, met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of twelve studio albums. Thin Lizzy are best known for their songs "Whiskey in the Jar", "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back in Town", all major international hits still played regularly on hard rock and classic rock radio stations. After Lynott's death in 1986, various incarnations of the band have emerged over the years based around guitarists Scott Gorham and John Sykes, though Sykes left the band in 2009. more »

3 fans

Written by: PHILIP PARRIS LYNOTT, WILLIAM SCOTT GORHAM

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Production
"Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)" is a track from "Renegade", the 11th album by the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. - It was produced by Thin Lizzy and Chris Tsangarides.
Songwriting Credit
The song was written by Phil Lynott, the band's lead vocalist and bass guitarist, along with guitarist Scott Gorham.
Release Information
"Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)" was released as a single in 1981, prior to the release of the album. - Despite being a memorable track for fans, it didn't chart on the UK Singles Chart on its release.
Musicality
The track showcases the classic Thin Lizzy twin-guitar sound, with Phil Lynott delivering lyrics that capture tales of broken dreams in Hollywood.
Media Performance
"Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)" is performed by Thin Lizzy in a live setting in the video 'Chinatown Tour '81', which is available on DVD.
Song Meaning
The song’s lyrics depict the harsh reality and darker side of Hollywood, challenging the glamorous facade often portrayed.
Lynott's Inspiration
Phil Lynott was known for writing songs that were inspired by real events and people, so it's possible that "Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)" was inspired by someone he knew or a personal experience.
Reception
Though not commercially impactful upon its release, the track has since grown to be a beloved song in the Thin Lizzy discography, appreciated for its honest depiction of Hollywood's darker side.
Last Single
"Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)" was the last single that Thin Lizzy released before the death of Phil Lynott five years later, in 1986.
Rerelease
The track was later included in various Thin Lizzy compilations, including "Wild One: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy" and "Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels". The latter compilation also included a live version of the track.

Discuss the Hollywood (Down On Your Luck) Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Hollywood (Down On Your Luck) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29957398/Thin+Lizzy/Hollywood+%28Down+On+Your+Luck%29>.

    Missing lyrics by Thin Lizzy?

    Know any other songs by Thin Lizzy? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)

    18,350
    300     31

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    What song was Ten2Five famous for?
    A I Will Fly
    B Yours
    C I Do Care
    D Banana

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Thin Lizzy's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Thin Lizzy tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!