Arguably ELP's best known song, this almost did not happen. On the last day of recording their first album, ELP did not have enough material to fulfill their contract requirements of 21 minutes per album side. Greg Lake started playing this ballad that he had wrote when he was 12 years old. The group started to record this, improvising as they went along. Keith Emerson's signature Moog solo at the end was his first take and he wasn't aware that the tape was running.
Lyrics:
He had white Horses And ladies by the score All dressed in satin And waiting by the door
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
White lace and feathers They made up his bed A gold covered mattress On which he was laid
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
He went to fight wars For his country and his king Of his honor and his glory The people would sing
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
A bullet had found him His blood ran as he cried No money could save him So he laid down and he died
Ooooh, what a lucky man he was Ooooh, what a lucky man he was