AJ Tracey – 3rd Time Lucky. Lyrics & Meaning

AJ Tracey – 3rd Time Lucky : A Raw and Powerful Tribute to a Mother’s Love

Ever had that overwhelming feeling of wanting to give the entire world to someone you love, but you don’t even know where to begin? That lump in your throat when you think about all the sacrifices they’ve made for you? It’s a heavy, beautiful feeling, a mix of immense gratitude and the pressure to make them proud. AJ Tracey bottles up this exact emotion and uncorks it in one of the most personal tracks of his career. Get ready, because we’re about to dive deep into a song that’s less of a rap record and more of a son’s open letter to his hero.

The Unspoken Story in AJ Tracey’s “3rd Time Lucky”

Right from the get-go, AJ Tracey’s “3rd Time Lucky” signals that this isn’t your typical track about flexing and success. It opens with a question that feels incredibly raw and vulnerable:

Where do I start?

It’s the sound of a man trying to compress a lifetime of love, struggle, and appreciation into a few minutes. He immediately sets the scene, not with a boast, but with a tribute to his mother’s strength. He references the Islamic teaching that paradise lies at the feet of your mother, a beautiful way of saying she’s his everything.

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I’ve come to terms that we’re all gettin’ older
Heaven’s beneath mum’s feet, for her whole life, she had the world on her shoulder

He paints a picture of a woman who carried immense burdens, and he saw it all. The pain wasn’t abstract; it was specific and heartbreaking. Imagine being a kid and seeing your mom cry because the birthday gift she worked hard for was stolen. It’s a memory that clearly seared itself into his mind, a symbol of their difficult beginnings.

Painting a Picture of Hardship

AJ doesn’t just tell us life was hard; he shows us. He pulls us into his memories with vivid, painful details that make the struggle feel immediate and real. This isn’t just a story; it’s a collection of snapshots from a life lived on “hard mode.”

From Ripped Shirts to Heavy Hearts

He recalls the simple, everyday struggles that so many can relate to—the worn-out clothes and the constant worry about money.

School shirt ripped, but that shit’s expensive
Money went low, and the list extensive

But the hardship went far beyond finances. The emotional weight was crushing. He touches upon his father’s absence and the fear that comes when the strongest person you know, your own mother, is scared. He mentions her battle with cancer, not once, but twice, and the terror of seeing her look like she might give up. It’s a moment of profound role reversal.

Anytime I was scared, I would call mum
But, when your mum’s scared, who you gonna call?

This is where AJ’s own journey into street life is revealed, not as a choice of glamour, but of necessity. He confesses to lying about where his money came from to shield his mother from the truth. That “found money” wasn’t a lucky discovery; it was earned on the road, a world she never wanted for him.

From a Front Room to Heated Floors: The Payback

The song is a journey from past pain to present triumph, and the ultimate goal was always to give back to the woman who gave everything. The ultimate “I made it” moment for AJ wasn’t a luxury car or a piece of jewelry. It was providing his mother with security and comfort, a safe haven far from their old block.

Asked me what I’m proudest of, it’s when I told you that your house was yours
Safe from the block, ’cause your heated floors

This line is so powerful. The “heated floors” aren’t just a luxury; they are a symbol of a warmth and comfort she was so often denied. It’s the physical manifestation of his success, all directed toward her well-being. He even reminisces about using her front room to write some of his “gulliest tracks”—the very music that paved the way for their new life. It’s a full-circle moment.

What ‘3rd Time Lucky’ Really Means

The chorus is the heart and soul of this song. It’s a plea, a hope, and a declaration of love. Having watched his mother battle cancer twice, the phrase “third time lucky” takes on a heavy, poignant meaning. It’s his desperate wish that this time, life will finally give her a break.

Know what they say, mum, third time lucky
You deserve for that to be true
You put everyone else in the top spot
This time, that deserves to be you

He acknowledges that she has always been selfless, always prioritizing others. Now, it’s her turn. His love isn’t just in words; it’s in his actions, in the house, in the security, and in the very creation of this song. The final lines of the chorus are a testament to her importance in his life. As long as she is there, no obstacle feels too big.

Sometimes life gets hard, but I smile
‘Cause you’re here, so how can we lose?

Ultimately, “3rd Time Lucky” is a beautiful reminder of the power of maternal love and the deep-seated human desire to repay that love. It’s a message of resilience, showing that even a life that “started on hard mode” can lead to a future filled with gratitude and warmth. The song teaches us that success is sweetest when it can be shared with those who believed in us from the very beginning.

This track is incredibly personal, and that’s what makes it so universal. It’s a testament to a mother-son bond forged in fire. What’s your take on it? Did any particular line hit home for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts and interpretations in the comments below!