Lost A Friend is track two off the 1997 James album Whiplash.
It was planned as the fourth single off the Whiplash LP and the band had recorded b-sides for the release and commissioned remixes before the plan was shelved because of the promotion required and the need to write some new material for the Best Of.
Tim said at the time that this was the most successful track in Whiplash in terms of what the band were trying to achieve. Producer Stephen Hague apparently tried to coax Tim into changing the lyrics to make them more romantic, the first time anyone had dared suggest this.
The lyrics deal with films such as Seven and Heat where the main element of the entertainment is watching people getting killed and the song is a reaction to that.
A Radio 1 session version of the track appears on the Tomorrow single and the 2001 reissue of the Whiplash album.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
My TV's staring at me
It says 'go to sleep, go to sleep'
Turns me into a Siamese twin
Where do I start
The TV screen begins
Plugs me into some holy geek
His point in life is incomplete
My TV is telling me that only money will make me happy
Hold the course and then sail
Hold the course and then sail
Across the satellite beams
Across the oceans and seas
To the lighthouse I could be
I see some soldiers with guns
And they are killing for fun
They are killing to entertain me
Caught between that world and this
I'd sell my soul for a Bond girl's kiss
Caught between that world and this
I'd sell my soul for a state of bliss
My TV's telling me that all our money goes into the military
Hold the course and then sail
Hold the course and then sail
Across the satellite beams
Across the oceans or seas
to the lighthouse I could be
I see some soldiers with guns
And they are killing for fun
They were dying to entertain me
And then I heard your name
As the spaceman came
He came right through my screen
And then his lifeline broke
He began to choke
Jump cut to another scene
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
We lost a friend to the sea
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
We lost a friend to the sea
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
We lost a friend to the sea
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
It says 'go to sleep, go to sleep'
Turns me into a Siamese twin
Where do I start
The TV screen begins
Plugs me into some holy geek
His point in life is incomplete
My TV is telling me that only money will make me happy
Hold the course and then sail
Hold the course and then sail
Across the satellite beams
Across the oceans and seas
To the lighthouse I could be
I see some soldiers with guns
And they are killing for fun
They are killing to entertain me
Caught between that world and this
I'd sell my soul for a Bond girl's kiss
Caught between that world and this
I'd sell my soul for a state of bliss
My TV's telling me that all our money goes into the military
Hold the course and then sail
Hold the course and then sail
Across the satellite beams
Across the oceans or seas
to the lighthouse I could be
I see some soldiers with guns
And they are killing for fun
They were dying to entertain me
And then I heard your name
As the spaceman came
He came right through my screen
And then his lifeline broke
He began to choke
Jump cut to another scene
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
We lost a friend to the sea
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
We lost a friend to the sea
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
We lost a friend to the sea
(Your health taken, your health taken, your health taken away)
| Song: | Lost A Friend |
| Released: | 24th February 1997 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Whiplash |
| First Heard Live: | Sheffield Leadmill – 25th January 1997 |
- Whiplash (early advance promo) :Promo, Album, 1996
- Whiplash (promo) :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash Canadian promo CD :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1997
- Whiplash (Vinyl Master) :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash :Studio, Album, 1997
- James BBC In Concert IC0713 (1997) :Promo, EP, 1997
- Tomorrow :Studio, Single, 1997
- Runaground :Studio, Single, 1998
- Whiplash (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- The Collection :Compilation, Album, 2004
- 1998 Singles & B-Sides :Compilation, Album, 2024
- Manchester Albert Hall – 18th December 2017
- Glasgow SECC – 13th April 2013
- Stirling Tolbooth – 12th April 2013
- Leeds O2 Academy – 14th December 2010
- Birmingham O2 Academy – 12th December 2010
- Benicassim Festival – 3rd August 2001
- Norwich UEA – 10th October 1999
- Birmingham NEC – 5th December 1998
- Hereford Leisure Centre – 4th December 1998
- Reading Festival – 22nd August 1997
- George Gorge Amphitheatre – 12th August 1997
- Devore Blockbuster Pavilion, San Bernardino – 8th August 1997
- San Jose Lollapalooza – 7th August 1997
- East Troy Alpine Valley Music Theatre – 27th July 1997
- Tinley Park New World Music Theatre, Chicago – 25th July 1997
- Burgettstown Star Lake Amphitheatre – 19th July 1997
- Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre (Lollapalooza) – 15th July 1997
- Seattle King Kat Theatre – 3rd May 1997
- Portland La Luna – 2nd May 1997
- Vancouver The Rage – 1st May 1997
- Manchester Apollo – 28th March 1997
- Liverpool Royal Court – 27th March 1997
- Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 25th March 1997
- Cambridge Corn Exchange – 24th March 1997
- Leicester De Montfort Hall – 23rd March 1997
- London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 21st March 1997
- London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 20th March 1997
- Southampton Guild Hall – 18th March 1997
- Newport Centre – 16th March 1997
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 14th March 1997
- Middlesbrough Town Hall – 13th March 1997
- Atlanta Roxy – 1st March 1997
- VH1 The Bridge – March 1997
- New York Tramps – 28th February 1997
- Modern Rock Live – 28th February 1997
- Washington 9.30 Club – 27th February 1997
- Cambridge, MA; Lizard Lounge – 25th February 1997
- Cambridge, MA; Harvard Square HMV – 25th February 1997
- Radio 1 Mark Radcliffe – 29th January 1997
- London Camden Dingwalls – 27th January 1997
- Bristol Fleece And Firkin – 26th January 1997
- Sheffield Leadmill – 25th January 1997
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