Famous Last Words

Album: Friends That Break Your Heart (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, James Blake is addressing a very close friend with whom he has a toxic relationship. However, much as he wants to end their association, he simply cannot get break free. "I think it blurs the line between friendship and romance," Blake told Apple Music. "With friendships, it's not necessarily that the feelings are romantic, but you can genuinely love someone and it hurt like that."
  • This is the opening track of Blake's fifth album, Friends That Break Your Heart. It's one of several tracks on the album that examines how we negotiate hurtful non-romantic relationships. The title track finds Blake discomforted after letting himself be vulnerable, and on "Funeral" he fears that friends have given up on him.
  • James Blake wrote the song on his own late at night. "I think I was in some deep-focus meditation state because I can't really remember a lot of it, which is usually a good sign," he told Apple Music. "I remember just being very, very focused and it was kind of over in a flash - I started and then the next minute it was done."
  • James Blake produced the song with:

    His actress girlfriend Jameela Jamil.

    Dominic Maker of the electronic music duo Mount Kimbie. Maker co-produced seven of the tracks on Friends That Break Your Heart.
  • In the song's cinematic video, a bruised and battered Blake wakes up in a hospital bed. He removes his oxygen mask and embarks on a surreal journey through the night. Flashbacks of arguments with a friend and smashing items with a baseball bat plague the singer before he finds peace at the beach.
  • James Blake didn't set out to write a record about friendship. It was only when Jameela Jamil pointed out it was a common theme that he titled the album Friends That Break Your Heart. "I didn't really know that that was what was happening until the very end," he told Teeth. "I made loads of music and then eventually me and Jameela were looking at it all and she said, it's really about friendship – a lot of it is anyways. And so that's where the name came from."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.