I think that "lost to some back alley job" refers to a back-street abortion (a dangerous and illegal abortion performed by someone who doesn't know what they're doing). I think that her friend being "lost" to the abortion means that the abortion went wrong and her friend died as a result of infection or what not... as used to happen before abortions became legal. It's such a sad song, but so touching as well.
I think that "lost to some back alley job" refers to a back-street abortion (a dangerous and illegal abortion performed by someone who doesn't know what they're doing). I think that her friend being "lost" to the abortion means that the abortion went wrong and her friend died as a result of infection or what not... as used to happen before abortions became legal. It's such a sad song, but so touching as well.