Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. When that group split in 1966, members Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore went on to co-found the enormously successful Fifth Dimension and Elston started the Friends, whose sound was similar to, and often confused with, the Fifth Dimension -- both included tightly harmonizing men and women dressed in late 60s "hip" clothing -- though the Friends' music was generally more soulful.
The newly formed Friends of Distinction was managed by football great Jim Brown and signed with RCA Records. Hitting the popular music scene when Motown and Stax were dominating, the Friends arrived with a breezy California pop/soul sound. Great harmonies and crossover arrangements backed the individually strong lead vocals of the group members. Combined with top notch material (both originals and covers), the group, like the Fifth Dimension, sounded like a breath of fresh air on Pop radio in 1969.
Their first single, "Grazin' In the Grass," was a Elston-sung vocal remake of a Hugh Masekela instrumental cut, and hit the top 5 on both Pop and Soul charts in 1969. The group's follow-up, "Going In Circles," was a brilliant ballad that also charted high. Love took some time off to have a baby, and Charlene Gibson stepped in and sang lead on the group's third big hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely." She also sang on the wonderful album cut, "Crazy Mary."
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). They also released a number of great singles, including "Check It Out" (later remade by Tavares) and a terrific cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits for No One." Their best cuts are excellently compiled in The Best of the Friends of Distinction, which was released in 1996.
As popular music changed in the mid-70s, the Friends' fortunes declined. Jessica Cleaves was featured with Earth Wind and Fire,first appearance on the"Last Days and Time" release. A grueling touring schedule and the lack of a hit for several years led the group to call it quits in 1975. Elston and Butler continued to write and perform for a few years, then ultimately went their separate ways, taking jobs outside of music.
Over the next two decades, there was a rediscovery of the great music that the Friends had made together, and their biggest hits were remade by several artists, with "Going In Circles" charting for the Gap Band and Luther Vandross and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" for pop artist Paul Davis. Most recently, "Grazin In the Grass" was released by Disney star Raven.
In 1990, Elston and Butler decided to bring the Friends back together. Tragically, Butler died (at Elston's side) before the group reunion could be realized. After Butler's death, Elston spent several years forming a new Friends group, ultimately bringing together Geno Henderson, Wendy Bruné and Berlando Drake to sing with Elston. That lineup currently tours and continues to entertain audiences nearly 40 years after the world first heard the Friends of Distinction.
Why Did I Lose You?
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What did I do wrong
Just when you were mine, I found your mine no longer
Why did I lose you, Baby
You were my whole life
I live just for you, it's true
Refrain
I can't go on now without your loving, now you're gone and I'm left with nothing
Why did I lose you, Baby (2x)
I can't face the fact, that you've lost this (that) feeling, so bring it on back
I've never cried for no one, but I'm crying now
Don't throw me away, please stay
And not me baby (refrain)
Won't you please tell me why did I lose you, baby, Oh why did I lose you, baby
Oh What did i do wrong, pls tell me
Oh why did I lose you, baby ooh why
The Friends of Distinction's song Why Did I Lose You? is about heartbreak and the confusion that comes with it. In the song, the singer is pleading with their lost love to come back and wondering what went wrong. The lyrics express the singer's desperation and their reluctance to accept reality. The song's minimalist arrangement, featuring only a piano and the band's signature harmony vocals, amplifies the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
The song's lyrics capture the universal feeling of losing someone you love and the pain that comes with it. The singer is trying to reason why their lover left and agonizing over every possible misstep that could have led to their departure. The song is a commentary on the fragility of relationships, how they can fall apart without warning, and how it is impossible to know when it is going to happen. The Friends of Distinction's performance evokes a sense of longing and helplessness, compelling the listener to connect with the lyrics on a personal level.
Line by Line Meaning
Why did I lose you, Baby
Asking for the reason that the person has left
What did I do wrong
Asking for an explanation of what mistake they made
Just when you were mine, I found your mine no longer
Feeling a sense of loss and confusion as to why the person's feelings changed
You were my whole life
Expressing that the person was everything to them
I live just for you, it's true
Admitting that their happiness depended entirely on the person they lost
I can't go on now without your loving, now you're gone and I'm left with nothing
Feeling empty and hopeless without the person they lost
I can't face the fact, that you've lost this (that) feeling, so bring it on back
Desperately wanting the person's love back and unwilling to accept that their feelings have changed
I've never cried for no one, but I'm crying now
Emphasizing the intensity of their emotions and how deeply the loss has affected them
Don't throw me away, please stay
Pleading for the person to not completely abandon the relationship
And not me baby
Expressing a desire to be chosen over whatever else caused the person to leave
Won't you please tell me why did I lose you, baby, Oh why did I lose you, baby
Repeating the opening line as a plea for an explanation and to express the depth of their pain
Oh What did i do wrong, pls tell me
Asking for a specific explanation of their mistake or faults
Oh why did I lose you, baby ooh why
Repeating the opening line again to emphasize the intensity of their pain and desire for answers
Writer(s): Roger Atkins, Carl D'errico
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.