"Bad Luck Charm" is a song featured in RWBY Volume 4. It is incorporated in the RWBY: Volume 4 Soundtrack.[1][2]
The song plays in "Punished", when Qrow Branwen fights against Tyrian Callows. The song title alludes to Qrow's Semblance, Misfortune.
Lyrics[]
Pain
Is your reward for being near me.
Fate
Won't be your friend when I'm around.
Blame
Me for the tragedies that follow.
Grave
The situations that surround.
I'm a harbinger,
I cannot lie,
I will change the color of your life.
I don't mean to bring you pain,
But I will, just why, I can't explain.
I am no one's blessing,
I'll just bring you harm.
I'm a cursed black cat,
I'm an albatross,
I'm a mirror broken,
Sad to say,
I'm your bad luck charm.
Shame
I hang my head in constant sorrow
Rain
On every day you need the light
Strain
To see some fortune in tomorrow
Bane
Is what I am to every life
You should trust one thing
Take my advice
If you linger close
It's a hefty price
You and I are not the same
You don't want the burden of my name
I am no one's blessing
I'll just bring you harm
I'm a cursed black cat
I'm an albatross
I'm a mirror broken
Sad to say I'm your bad luck charm
A guaranteed catastrophe
A tear that's bound to fall
A sure train wreck
And you'll soon regret
The day I came to call
I'm a cursed black cat
I'm an albatross
I'm a mirror broken
Sad to say, I'm your bad luck charm
Trivia[]
- The song references multiple symbols believed to bring bad luck:
- Black cats are a associated with witches and misfortune.
- Killing an albatross is a sign of bad luck for sailors.
- Breaking a mirror is believed to bring seven years of bad luck.
- The lyric "I am no one's blessing" may be a reference to his last name, originating from Branwen the Blessed from Norse mythology.
- The song is based off of Qrow's leitmotif, which was first heard in "New Challengers...".
- It is the most commonly reoccurring leitmotif in the show.
- During the fight between Qrow and Winter in "It's Brawl in the Family", the commentary track describes his theme as taking inspiration from "Red Like Roses", but distorted and changed.
- The leitmotif has also been used multiple times in RWBY Chibi.
- First in the episode "Coming Home to Roost", when an upbeat instrumental version of the song was used as a soundtrack for the short of the same name.
- Again in "Cool Dad", when three different instrumental versions of the song were used during the "Cool Uncle" and "Cool Dad" shorts including the credits for the episode.
- And again in the episode "Mortal Frenemies", when another instrumental version of it is used during the short of the same name.
- Another upbeat version is also used in the episode "Tea Party" during the Leisurely Stroll of Doom skit.
- Another instrumental version of the song is played during the two "QrowCrow" skits in the episode "JNPR Dreams".