James Lost A Friend

LOST A FRIEND

First released 1997

Lost A Friend 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.

WHERE TO GET

Album Version : Whiplash LP (534 354-1), CAS (534 354-4), CD (534 354-2)

Album Version : Whiplash reissue CD (548 788-2)

Album Version : James - The Collection CD (9824088)

Album Version : The Gathering Sound boxset USB stick

Live Version (Radcliffe Session 29.1.97) : Tomorrow CDS2 (JIMDD 17)

Live Version (Radcliffe Session 29.1.97) : Whiplash reissue CD (548 788-2)

Aloof Remix : Runaground CDS3 (JIMED 20)

LYRICS

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

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

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)