# Songs for friends **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314 "2013-09-08T06:03:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/1 "2013-09-08T06:03:28Z")
In a few weeks, I’m going to be leaving the UK to return to NZ after 12 years. Before I go, I want to record something for a really special friend as a way of saying “thank you” - I don’t think she realises how important her friendship has been over the last few months, particularly. And to be clear, this really is just someone who has been a friend. > [@](#): > > “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.” > Ralph Waldo Emerson The obvious candidate is “thank you for being a friend” - the sentiment is correct but I find it a bit cloying. My other option is “with a little help from my friends”, but the sentiment isn’t as good a fit, although I can work it with the words. So I’m looking for ideas for songs that fit - it has to be something that lends itself to an acoustic arrangement, but have at it: ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/2 "2013-09-08T08:08:09Z")
Queen immediately comes to mind: “You’re my best friend.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/3 "2013-09-08T12:18:04Z")
“You’ve Got a Friend”, written by Carole King, popularized by James Taylor. ETA: [LINK](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WJ1cf3nrLE) mmm ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/4 "2013-09-08T12:46:51Z")
Sadly I have discounted both the above (nice songs though they are) _You’re My Best Friend_ is clearly an expression to a lover/partner - I might sing it to my wife, but not to my friend (who as I noted in the OP, is just a friend). _You’ve Got A Friend_ also does not work - it is a song that expresses that the singer will be there as a friend for someone who needs it. I want to indicate that I have appreciated the friendship that my friend has offered. Am I being awkward? I have had a good look, and have covered the mainstream songs about friendship. I’m hoping someone will have something maybe a little off the beaten track that is a bit more focussed. ---
**Author:** ![chancetx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chancetx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chancetx)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/5 "2013-09-09T01:54:00Z")
Perhaps ABBA’s “The Way Old Friends Do” would work? It’s sentimental but not as cloying as “Thank You For Being A Friend.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r41exeeQ5vM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r41exeeQ5vM) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/6 "2013-09-09T02:06:24Z")
[Chet Baker: “My Buddy”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfUZomG97pI) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/7 "2013-09-09T02:25:22Z")
Elton John:[Friends](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuzi-yH9VLo) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/8 "2013-09-09T11:13:52Z")
‘Old Friends’ - Simon & Garfunkle ‘Lean on me’ - Bill Withers [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cXjMyZ43YbM/maxresdefault.jpg "Lean On Me Bill Withers Soul Train 1974") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXjMyZ43YbM) ‘With a little help from my friends’ - Beatles ‘I’ll be there’ - Jacksons ‘That’s what friends are for’ - Deniece Williams ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/9 "2013-09-09T13:58:17Z")
[Fill to Me the Parting Glass](http://goireland.about.com/od/irishtradandfolkmusic/qt/irishfolkpartin.htm) Good night and joy be with you all. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/10 "2013-09-09T19:14:08Z")
Randy Newman - “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/11 "2013-09-09T20:00:30Z")
Pete Seeger/Woody Guthrie: "[So Long, It’s Been Good To Know Ya"](http://lyrics.wikia.com/Pete_Seeger:So_Long,_It's_Been_Good_To_Know_You_(Dusty_Old_Dust)) Beatles: [“In My Life”](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/In-My-Life-lyrics-The-Beatles/70E2C57578D2E1AA48256BC2001373D4) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/12 "2013-09-09T20:22:49Z")
It was horribly overplayed in the late '00s but “For Good” from Wicked is pretty much all about the significance of a strong friendship. I kind of like Eels “[You’re My Friend](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTz8xcJrrKI)” but it’s not to everyone’s taste. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/13 "2013-09-10T10:42:18Z")
["Amigos Para Siempre "](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK5WP83t6Xk)? ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/14 "2013-09-10T10:49:08Z")
Bridge Over Troubled Water ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-friends/668314/15 "2013-09-10T12:49:43Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I kind of like Eels “[You’re My Friend](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTz8xcJrrKI)” but it’s not to everyone’s taste. The lyrics look pretty good, but I’m unable to hear the darn thing from Youtube. I like the Eels other stuff, though, so it might be a possibility.