diff --git a/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt b/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt
index 8feb87952d..42aa62444b 100644
--- a/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt
+++ b/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ StepMania current development
 * [ScreenGameplay] LifeMeterChangedP1 message is no longer broadcast for for
   P2's lifemeter.  Use LifeMeterChangedP2.  "Life" and "StepsSecond" are passed
   in the params table for the message.
+* [LifeMeterBattery] CourseSongRewardLives metric added.
 
 2013/10/09
 ----------
diff --git a/Themes/_fallback/metrics.ini b/Themes/_fallback/metrics.ini
index b99685446d..cca33326ee 100644
--- a/Themes/_fallback/metrics.ini
+++ b/Themes/_fallback/metrics.ini
@@ -672,6 +672,8 @@ MinesSubtractLives=1
 HeldAddLives=0
 # how many lives an unsuccessful hold will cost you.
 LetGoSubtractLives=1
+# this function returns how many lives to add when a song ends in course mode.
+CourseSongRewardLives=function(life_meter, pn) if GAMESTATE:GetCurrentSteps(pn):GetMeter() >= 8 then return 2 end return 1 end
 
 # How many lives trigger the "Danger" state.
 DangerThreshold=1
diff --git a/src/LifeMeterBattery.cpp b/src/LifeMeterBattery.cpp
index d880343fab..4279c85f9b 100644
--- a/src/LifeMeterBattery.cpp
+++ b/src/LifeMeterBattery.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ void LifeMeterBattery::Load( const PlayerState *pPlayerState, PlayerStageStats *
 	MINES_SUBTRACT_LIVES.Load(sType, "MinesSubtractLives");
 	HELD_ADD_LIVES.Load(sType, "HeldAddLives");
 	LET_GO_SUBTRACT_LIVES.Load(sType, "LetGoSubtractLives");
+	COURSE_SONG_REWARD_LIVES.Load(sType, "CourseSongRewardLives");
 
 	LIVES_FORMAT.Load(sType, "NumLivesFormat");
 
@@ -89,7 +90,17 @@ void LifeMeterBattery::OnSongEnded()
 		if( pCourse && pCourse->m_vEntries[GAMESTATE->GetCourseSongIndex()].iGainLives > -1 )
 			m_iLivesLeft += pCourse->m_vEntries[GAMESTATE->GetCourseSongIndex()].iGainLives;
 		else
-			m_iLivesLeft += ( GAMESTATE->m_pCurSteps[pn]->GetMeter()>=8 ? 2 : 1 );
+		{
+			Lua *L= LUA->Get();
+			COURSE_SONG_REWARD_LIVES.PushSelf(L);
+			PushSelf(L);
+			LuaHelpers::Push(L, pn);
+			RString error= "Error running CourseSongRewardLives callback: ";
+			LuaHelpers::RunScriptOnStack(L, error, 1, 1, true);
+			m_iLivesLeft += luaL_optnumber(L, -1, 0);
+			lua_settop(L, 0);
+			LUA->Release(L);
+		}
 		m_iLivesLeft = min( m_iLivesLeft, GAMESTATE->m_SongOptions.GetSong().m_iBatteryLives );
 
 		if( m_iTrailingLivesLeft < m_iLivesLeft )
diff --git a/src/LifeMeterBattery.h b/src/LifeMeterBattery.h
index 34279924a1..6d20b59a1f 100644
--- a/src/LifeMeterBattery.h
+++ b/src/LifeMeterBattery.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ private:
 	ThemeMetric<int>	MINES_SUBTRACT_LIVES;
 	ThemeMetric<int>	HELD_ADD_LIVES;
 	ThemeMetric<int>	LET_GO_SUBTRACT_LIVES;
+	ThemeMetric<LuaReference> COURSE_SONG_REWARD_LIVES;
 	ThemeMetric<RString> LIVES_FORMAT;
 
 	AutoActor	m_sprFrame;