For an infinite, finitely generated group Gamma, we study the first co
homology group H-1(Gamma, lambda(Gamma)) with coefficients in the left
regular representation lambda(Gamma) of Gamma on l(2)(Gamma). We firs
t prove that H-1(Gamma, C Gamma) embeds into H-1(Gamma, lambda(Gamma))
; as a consequence, if H-1(Gamma, lambda(Gamma)) = 0, then Gamma is no
t amenable with one end. For a Cayley graph X of Gamma, denote by HD(X
) the space of harmonic functions on X with finite Dirichlet sum. We s
how that, if Gamma is not amenable, then there is a natural isomorphis
m between H-1(Gamma, lambda(Gamma)) and HD(X)/C (the latter space bein
g isomorphic to the first L-2-cohomology space of Gamma). We draw the
following consequences: (1) If Gamma has infinitely many ends, then HD
(X) not equal C; (2) If Gamma has Kazhdan's property (T), then HD(X) =
C; (3) The property H-1(Gamma, lambda(Gamma)) = 0 is a quasi-isometry
invariant; (4) Either H-1(Gamma, lambda(Gamma)) = 0 or H-1(Gamma, lam
bda(Gamma)) is infinite-dimensional; (5) If Gamma = Gamma(1) x Gamma(2
) with Gamma(1) non-amenable and Gamma(2) infinite, then H-1(Gamma, la
mbda(Gamma)) = 0.