SOME SONGS ARE GREAT SHORT STORIES (Chapter 34)

A GUEST POSTING by flimflamfan

Following a rather down-beat post I provided to this very series (Antony and the Johnson’s – Paddy’s Gone) I became somewhat fixated by a much-loved song which is almost as down-beat as it is sparse with its evocative storytelling: James King and the Lonewolves – Lost.

Released in 1983 (Thrush 2), the final song on a 5 track 12” e.p., Lost leaves me anything but. It’s one of my all-time favourite Scottish songs; ranking extremely high within my favourite Glaswegian songs. It’s like a close friend. I’m very protective of it. It has brought joy when joy was needed.

Like Paddy’s Gone, Lost is delivered with such fragility there’s a sense that it could fall part at any moment. The hesitant vocals, the lyrics, the bass-y induced thud and that ending … a wall of guitar lost in its own melee. Genius.

The thing about this song and its story is … I’m not actually sure if the words below are the correct ones? This is how I’ve been signing it since, ahem, 1983. I’ve tried to find ‘actual’ lyrics but have had no luck.

You’re all I live for
You’re all I care for
I still have time for
Holding on

We’ve grown impatient
We’re tired of waiting
When are you coming?
I’m holding on

Searching for some feeling
Forever drifting
Our hopes are fading
I’m holding on

If I got any of the lyrics wrong then I’m a bit of a fool but … I won’t change them. I’ve lived with this song for so long that even if the words are incorrect, I care not.

Who did he/she live for? Who did he/she care for? And despite hope fading he/she held on – was his/her hope ever requited?

I’m quite in awe when a lyricist can say so much with so few words and this is a perfect example. With 4 other very strong contenders on one e.p. it may seem unkind, perhaps ungrateful, to choose a favourite but this short story seduces me every time.

mp3 : James King & The Lone Wolves – Lost

flimflamfan