Good Luck, Babe! Lyrics

About “Good Luck, Babe!”

“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan reflects on a past secret relationship with a woman and the challenges of compulsory heterosexuality. The song conveys the emotional struggle of dealing with a partner who denies their true feelings. "Casual" explores the theme of being in a relationship with a woman who is in denial about her sexuality and attraction to Chappell. The lyrics suggest that the affection in their relationship is one-sided due to the subject's internalized homophobia and reluctance to accept her sexuality. Roan loves her partner but yearns for a relationship where the love is wholly reciprocated, without shame getting in the way and becoming someone's secret. The idea of "shooting a shot" may have a double meaning, as it can mean asking out another man or taking a shot of alcohol to numb her feelings for other women. The lyric video features some alcohol references, including an image of some women drinking alcohol. Roan's ex-partner keeps making excuses about their relationship, trying to deny her interest in women and that they can't be together. The sarcastic remark expresses her certainty that her ex-partner will fail in their attempt to suppress their attraction to women. The claim that it's a'sexually explicit kind of love affair' may also be a mockery at how the lover views the relationship. Roan realizes that this relationship isn't good for her and that she has the ability to break things off with the woman who refuses to treat their relationship as legitimate. "Even if you call it love" illustrates how this person will end up returning to Chappell, because they accept that they are not attracted to men. The lyrics also highlight the societal expectations of what a wife should be, as women in straight marriages are often reduced to being "nothing more than [a] wife." These feelings are especially heart wrenching to the subject of the song, who is not actually in love with the man but staying in a straight marriage out of denial of her own sexuality. Roan told her ex that she could never outrun her queerness and that she would be unhappy trying – her ex will have to face the reality that she's queer, and she will never really be happy forcing herself to deny her homosexuality. Despite the relationship's outcome, Roan still cares about her ex and doesn't wish the pain of hiding one's sexuality upon her.

• Album: CR2*
• Release Date: April 5, 2024
• Producer: Dan Nigro
• Genre: Pop, Dance-Pop, Synth-Pop
• Themes: Compulsory heterosexuality, Secret relationship, LGBTQ+
• Notable Performances: SOMA in San Diego, Coachella
• Writers: Chappell Roan, Justin Tranter, Dan Nigro

Annotations and Meaning.

[Verse 1]

The first verse sets the stage for the emotional complexity of the song. The protagonist acknowledges the denial of their relationship's significance by their partner. The imagery of "arms out like an angel through the car sunroof" symbolizes a moment of freedom and vulnerability that contrasts with the partner's denial.

[Pre-Chorus]

In the pre-chorus, the protagonist expresses the desire to continue the relationship, while the partner avoids labeling it as love. This tension highlights the imbalance in their connection, with the protagonist seeking genuine affection.

[Chorus]

The chorus emphasizes the partner's attempts to suppress their true feelings by engaging in superficial relationships. The repeated phrase "Good luck, babe" conveys a mix of sarcasm and resignation, suggesting that the partner will never truly escape their emotions.

[Verse 2]

In the second verse, the protagonist reflects on the physical and emotional intensity of their relationship. The use of "sexually explicit kind of love affair" underscores the depth of their connection, while the plea for "a little lovin'" and "a little air" indicates a need for both affection and space.

[Bridge]

The bridge paints a vivid picture of the partner's future regrets. The protagonist predicts that the partner will wake up next to someone else, feeling unfulfilled and haunted by memories of their past love. The phrase "I told you so" reinforces the inevitability of these regrets.

[Chorus]

The final chorus reiterates the partner's futile attempts to escape their feelings. The repetition of "Good luck, babe" serves as a reminder that the emotional connection between the protagonist and their partner is inescapable.

[Outro]

The outro's repeated line "You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling" underscores the persistence of the partner's emotions, suggesting that no matter how hard they try, they cannot escape the truth of their past relationship. On “Good Luck, Babe!”, Roan looks back on a secret relationship with a woman from her past and the struggle with compulsory heterosexuality that ultimately broke them up. During a show in San Diego, Chappell performed “Good Luck, Babe!” for the first time. She would later post snippets to social media before confirming the April 5th release date.