Best Friendship Songs?

November 24, 2006 12:16 AM

Best songs about friendship? A good friendship?
posted by geekhorde to media & arts (47 answers total)

That's What Friends Are For.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:22 AM on November 24, 2006

bright eyes "i'll be your friend" ...well, it's a great song anyways.
posted by haveanicesummer at 1:06 AM on November 24, 2006

I like "Two of Us" from the Beatles Let It Be album.
posted by zaebiz at 1:10 AM on November 24, 2006 [1 favorite]

wind beneath my wings
posted by Jujee at 1:11 AM on November 24, 2006

Queen - You're My Best Friend
posted by slimepuppy at 1:34 AM on November 24, 2006

Justice vs. Simian We Are Your Friends (great film clip, btw).
posted by kisch mokusch at 1:47 AM on November 24, 2006

Wings - "Let 'Em In"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Me and My Friends"
And I can't find a good video, but Pennywise's cover of "Stand By Me" jumped to mind..
posted by hypersloth at 1:49 AM on November 24, 2006

Sufjan Stevens - Size to Small [off of the incredible Seven Swans LP]
posted by trinarian at 1:51 AM on November 24, 2006

The White Stripes: We're Going to be Friends.
The Olivia Tremor Control: Green Typewriters (Part 10).
Lou Reed: She's My Best Friend.
Saint Etienne: You're In a Bad Way.
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush: Don't Give Up.
posted by misteraitch at 2:18 AM on November 24, 2006

Either very related, or extremely unrelated: A Beautiful Friendship (wonderful tune, regardless of its relevance).
posted by rossination at 2:29 AM on November 24, 2006

Michael Jackson - Ben
posted by arruns at 2:55 AM on November 24, 2006

Bowling For Soup - Friends of Mine
posted by Aznable at 3:06 AM on November 24, 2006

Red hot Chilli Peppers - Road Trippin'
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:17 AM on November 24, 2006

Rolf Harris - Two Little Boys
posted by biffa at 3:24 AM on November 24, 2006

Jawbreaker, "Busy" (the ultimate "I'll always have your back" song)
Soul Position, "Things Go Better" (listen until the end)
Busdriver,"Befriend the Friendless Friendster"
Handsome Boy Modeling School, "If It Wasn't For You"
Weezer, "My Best Friend" (romantic overtones
posted by jeffmshaw at 4:00 AM on November 24, 2006

Bruce Cockburn's "Isn't That What Friends Are For" does it for me.

I've been scraping little shavings off my ration of light
And I've formed it into a ball, and each time I pack a bit more onto it
I make a bowl of my hands and I scoop it from its secret cache
Under a loose board in the floor
And I blow across it and I send it to you
Against those moments when
The darkness blows under your door

posted by Jeanne at 4:28 AM on November 24, 2006

Bill Withers' Lean On Me.

...
You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

....

Call me, if you need a friend
Call me, if you ever need a friend
posted by althanis at 4:38 AM on November 24, 2006

You've Got a Friend:
posted by pracowity at 5:45 AM on November 24, 2006

Simon and Garfunkel: Old Friends (followed by Bookends)

Old Friends
Old Friends
Set on their park bench like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes
Of the old friends

Old Friends
Winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats
Waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust
On the shoulders of the old friends

Can you imagine us years from today
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange to be seventy...

Old Friends
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears

(Musical Interlude)

Time it was, and what a time it was
It was a time of innocence
A time of confidences

Long ago it must be,
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
They're all that's left you

I love those songs...
posted by jdroth at 5:47 AM on November 24, 2006

"I'll be there for you" - The Rembrands (aka. Theme from Friends)

"You were my friend" - Chi Coltrane (although that friendship has ended)

"You've got a friend in me" - Randy Newman (from Toy Story OST)

(also: see Polomancho's comment)
posted by lodev at 5:49 AM on November 24, 2006

Jack Johnson We are going to be friends
posted by greedo at 5:54 AM on November 24, 2006

The original version of We are going to be friends by the White Stripes is much better IMHO.
posted by cyphill at 6:18 AM on November 24, 2006

Dave Pirner/Victoria Williams - My Ally

Intro:
G Bm C D

G Bm C D
No we don't make passionate love
G Bm C D
No we don't even kiss and hug
G Bm C D
Not a lot of jealousy
G Bm C D
I'm friends with you I hope you're friends with me.


CHORUS:
G Bm
You're my ally
C D
You're my ally
G Bm C D
You're my ally.


Worn out grudges just don't exist
Spin around 'til we're tired of this
We don't care who owns who
You don't own me I don't own you.

CHORUS

F G
Standing on the pavement looking like an accident
F G
Waiting on a weekend catch you in the (wind?).

(solo)

G Bm
You're my ally.

We don't care who owns who
You don't own me I don't own you.

CHORUS (end on third "you're my ally" w/out playing final C D chords)
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:21 AM on November 24, 2006

"Can't Stand Me Now" by the Libertines is about fighting with your best friend

"Adventure Today" and "Anti-Matter" by the Aquabats are both about appreciating your friends
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 7:46 AM on November 24, 2006

Two punk songs from a mix I made many years ago:

Friends 'Til the End - Millencolin - they're Swedish, give them a break
The New Patron Saints and Angels - AFI
posted by Jupiter Jones at 8:07 AM on November 24, 2006

I can't beleive I'm the first one mentioning this, but "With A Little Help From My Friends" - The Beatles.
posted by Heminator at 8:41 AM on November 24, 2006

this title makes me wonder if there is such a thing as a bad relationship and whether one would choose to sustain such.

then again - I think there is. eric clapton's "cocaine" is about a friendship and it's certainly not a good one.
posted by krautland at 9:32 AM on November 24, 2006

Smashing Pumpkins: "1979" and "Perfect"
posted by notswedish at 10:27 AM on November 24, 2006

Indigo Girls - "Back Together Again"
posted by eggerspretty at 10:33 AM on November 24, 2006

Friendship - Tenacious D
posted by samh23 at 10:55 AM on November 24, 2006

Bill Withers, "Friend of Mine."

Second "Lean on Me." Try the Live at Carnegie Hall version for a fresh listen if you're inclined to think of that song as nothing more than an old cliche.
posted by ibmcginty at 10:59 AM on November 24, 2006

I can't believe no one has mentioned The Clash' Stay Free. The song gives me a lump in my throat almost everytime I listen!
posted by Richat at 11:20 AM on November 24, 2006

Whoops, I meant to post this...it's the last few lines:

I'll never forget the feeling I got
when I heard that you'd got home
and I'll never forget the smile on my face
'cos i knew where you would be
an' if you're in the crown tonight
have a drink on me
but go easy...step lightly...stay free
posted by Richat at 11:22 AM on November 24, 2006

Sondheim's "Old Friends" from Merrily We Roll Along...

"Hey old friend
are you ok old friend
what'll you say old friend
are we or are we unique
time goes by
everything else keeps changing
you and I we get continued next week
most friends fade
or they don't make the grade
new ones are quickly made
and in a pinch, sure they'll do
but us old friends
what's to discuss old friend
here's to us
who's like us
damn few"
posted by elkerette at 12:07 PM on November 24, 2006

"Will is my friend" by Devendra Banhart.
posted by ORthey at 12:32 PM on November 24, 2006

DJ Shadow - Fuck What Ya Heard

it's a hip hop song with lyrics by Sage Francis. Pretty mellow beat and lyrics(no swearing despite the song name) with a trumpet in the background as well as piano in the melody.

More of a guy to guy song, though. Thought I'd put something different out as a suggestion.
posted by gradient at 1:23 PM on November 24, 2006

I emailed Stay Free to my friend when he got out of the army. Beautiful song.

But how about:
I'm Pulling Through by Billie Holiday
I'm pulling through and it's because of you
When I was stranded came your helping hand
Lonely, hurt I had not known which way to turn
'Til you said, "Try smiles, not tears, just laugh and learn"

Thick as Thieves by the Jam
Times were so tough, but not as tough as they are now,
We were so close and nothing came between us - and the world -
No personal situations.
Thick as thieves us, wed stick together for all time,
And we meant it but it turns out just for a while,
We stole - the friendship that bound us together

And from the same record -- apparently some friend broke our Paul's heart.
Burning Sky by the Jam
...And in any case it wouldn't be the same, 'cause we've all grown up and we've got our lives
and the values that we had once upon a time, seem stupid now 'cause the rent must be paid
and some bonds severed and others made.
posted by Methylviolet at 2:45 PM on November 24, 2006

(It's about a friendship with a dog, but) Me & My Arrow by Harry Nilsson.
posted by treepour at 3:34 PM on November 24, 2006

Mighty Long Way - Fishbone
posted by black8 at 4:28 PM on November 24, 2006

Stevie Ray Vaughan's Life By The Drop.
posted by NortonDC at 6:28 PM on November 24, 2006

This is all SO GOOD, and very very helpful. Thank you all.
posted by geekhorde at 7:01 PM on November 24, 2006

Cole Porter's "Friendship" (from the musical "Anything Goes"). link</a.
posted by amtho at 7:45 PM on November 24, 2006

Harry Nilsson - Me And My Arrow
posted by hortense at 7:47 PM on November 24, 2006

"Never Mind the Strangers" by The Saw Doctors.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 9:22 PM on November 24, 2006

I can't believe no one mentioned "Waitin' on a Friend" by the Stones yet. That was the first thing I thought of when I saw the question.

Also, "a friend is a friend" by Pete Townshend.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:43 PM on November 24, 2006

oh and a ton of Springsteen songs, although they aren't always entirely happy; "No Surrender" is the first one that springs to mind.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:45 PM on November 24, 2006

Savage Garden - "Crash And Burn"

Clay Aiken - "I Will Carry You"
posted by divabat at 1:48 AM on November 25, 2006