Jimmy Herrity‘s latest single ‘Lost Boys‘ is a somber, soul-stirring ballad that paints a haunting portrait of grief and loss. With its delicate fingerpicked guitar and the songwriter’s ethereal vocals, the song feels like a whispered confession, a private conversation with the ghosts of the past.
Drawing inspiration from his own tragic experiences, including the loss of his brother and a close friend, Herrity crafts a deeply personal and emotionally resonant track. The melody, like a gentle lullaby, builds towards a poignant crescendo while maintaining its intimate tone. Lyrically, Herrity captures the weight of unfulfilled dreams and the relentless passage of time, poignantly expressed in lines like, “I haven’t seen much of the sea this summer.”
Herrity‘s songwriting evokes a sense of melancholy reminiscent of artists like Nick Drake and Ben Gibbard. His understated delivery adds a layer of authenticity, making the listener feel as if they are sharing a deeply personal moment with him. ‘Lost Boys’ is a powerful and moving piece that offers solace to anyone grappling with the pain of loss. It’s a song that lingers long after it ends, a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of human emotion.
Before we leave you to dive into the single, here’s a special message from Jimmy Herrity: “‘Lost Boys’ is about that gnawing feeling of wishing you’d done more with your time, and yearning for something to save you. It’s a reflection on self-doubt, with verses that cascade through uncertainty and a pre-chorus that paints romantic, wintery imagery of better days to come. The chorus—’Well, I haven’t seen much of the sea this summer’—is an analogy for feeling like time is slipping away. The song was originally titled ‘The Lost Boy,’ but I changed it to ‘Lost Boys’ to note the multiple people we’ve lost over the years, notably my brother and, more recently, a very close friend of the guitarist in my band. We played Lost Boys at his funeral, which added more historical context to the song. It’s been around for a while and seems to keep taking on more meaning. Which is funny because it was already pretty fucking sad.”
You can also listen to ‘Lost Boys’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
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