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2001 single by Paul McCartney

"From a Lover to a Friend" is a song by Paul McCartney, featured on his 2001 album Driving Rain. It was released as a single and spent two weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #45.[1] It also reached #6 on the Canadian Singles Chart.[2] In the U.S. it became the b-side to his single "Freedom" and peaked at #24 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Critics saw the song as a ballad in which McCartney tries to come to terms with the death of his wife Linda,[3] singing "let me love again"; McCartney, however, was less certain whom the song was about in an interview on Howard Stern`s radio show.[4] The Guardian called it a "masterpiece... so delicate and honest that it sounds pretty much perfect."[3]

"From a Lover to a Friend" was recorded on 27 February 2001 with Paul playing bass and piano, Abe Laboriel, Jr. playing drums, Rusty Anderson on 12-string electric guitar, and Gabe Dixon on piano.[5]

Track listings

7" single

1. "From a Lover to a Friend" – 3:48
2. "Riding Into Jaipur" – 4:08

CD single

1. "From a Lover to a Friend"– 3:49
2. "From a Lover to a Friend" (David Kahne Remix 1) – 3:44
3. "From a Lover to a Friend" (David Kahne Remix 2) – 5:27

Cassette single[6]

1. "From a Lover to a Friend" – 3:48
2. "Riding Into Jaipur" – 4:08
3. "From a Lover to a Friend" (David Kahne Remix 2) – 5:27

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "From a Lover to a Friend"

Year-end charts

2001 year-end chart performance for "Feel It Boy"

2002 year-end chart performance for "Feel It Boy"