Lydia

Album: "Well, Well," Said The Rocking Chair (1978)
Charted: 31
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dean Friedman said of this song: "I wrote it about a lovely young lady I dated when I was just starting out in the music biz, but I used her roommates name to protect the not-so-innocent." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jeffrey - Hilversum, Netherlands
  • Friedman's first single was "Ariel," which was a hit in America, but didn't catch on in the UK. His second album, Well Well Said The Rocking Chair, produced the #3 UK hit "Lucky Stars," and also the #31 "Lydia," but neither song made the American charts. In our 2012 interview with Dean Friedman, he explained what happened with his label, Lifesong Records: "Their subsidiary in the UK just said, 'Well, we've done as much as we can. If you're not going to share in the cost of continuing to break this artist, there's not much more we can do.' And at that point I just decided that I needed to part with the label. I had delivered four successive chart records around the world. Sold at least a million units. And I was still borrowing money to get to the studio. I was always very aware that I was on small labels that were not in a position to maximize the opportunity."

    Friedman ended up declaring bankruptcy, but was a consistent draw in the UK, where he would tour for about two months every year. He moved there in 1998.

Comments: 3

  • Zoe from RydeLydia needs to get some self esteem
  • Lela Van Son from Rotterdam, The Netherlands.I just found out this song was actually written about my grandma who dated him when she visited America. The song Lydia is about her.
  • Mark from Lancaster, PaDean Freidman had another great hit called Ariel from the 70's.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.