Amy Boersma came to LA as a singer songwriter in 1970 and during the typical string of artist development deals that for some reason, don’t quite pan out, she met and captured the interest of more than a few distinguished record producers. Among these were Jack Daugherty (the Carpenters. Paul Williams) and Rick Jarrard (Jefferson Airplane, Nillson, Jose Feliciano). However it was a randomly brief but fortuitous rehearsal encounter with a relatively unknown composer, and for the moment, piano accompanist Michael McDonald, during these early years that would lead ultimately to Amy Hollands success at radio years later, winning her a best new artist nomination at the Grammy Awards of 1980. McDonald who, years later, remembering the allure of her vocal style, would join forces with keyboardist/composer/producer, Patrick Henderson to produce her first Capitol LP from which the top 20 hit “How do I Survive,” (composed by Paul Bliss), emerged on to the charts, taking Amy Holland around the world as an American 80’s ingénue. This period of Amy’s career is documented by TV appearances in Japan and the US that can still be found on YouTube.
A second Capitol LP titled “On Your Every Word” and musical contributions to films such as “Scarface” and “Teen Wolf” (Some of those tracks produced and written by the infamous Giorgio Moroder) along with her contributions to the projects of other artist’s such as Kenny Loggins, Joni Mitchell, Tim Weisburg, Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons and McDonald’s solo projects, would mark her career path for the next few years.
During this time her music business relationship with producer McDonald had developed into something much more and with their marriage and the subsequent birth of their two children, Amy found herself embracing the role of wife and mother. discovering along the way that she had to somewhat relax her grip on her lifelong dream of being a recording artist.
After a much longer than intended hiatus due to a battle to survive breast cancer, Amy found a renewed inspiration in the making and release of “The Journey To Miracle River”. Produced by Bernie Chiaravalle, this Album is very much the autobiography of a personal sojourn she was destined to return from at this point in her life, It’s her first solo album release in over 20 years.
With songs co-written by Amy with friends Jon Vesner, John Goodwin, Michael McDonald and Bernie Chiaravalle. The album features contributions from Vince Gill, Michael McDonald, Shannon Forrest, Bernie Chiaravalle, Stuart Duncan, Tim Akers, and her son, Dylan McDonald.
Amy’s voice can be heard on Willie Nelson’s release of “Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth”. A poignant call to conscience featuring other artists such as Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Michael McDonald, and Pat Simmons with all proceeds going to benefit the National Veterans Foundation.
Everybody Wants to Be Your Friend
Amy Holland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it hurts me to see what you go through
It's a job never done when you're everything to everyone
Till you don't have nothing else
You don't even have yourself
Everybody wants to be your friend
They will pull on you and you just bend
Can't you see that that's no way to live
They will take as long as you will give
But that's a choice you make
May not be true but it's what I believe
Just trying to tell you what I see
From my point of view
It's like you're losin' you
If you could see it through my eyes
Maybe you would realize
Everybody wants to be your friend
They will pull on you and you just bend
Yet you never break
Can't you see that that's no way to live
They will take as long as you will give
But that's a choice you make
From my point of view
It's like I'm losin' you
Guess I'm lookin' through my eyes
Tryin' to make you realize
Everybody wants to be your friend
Everybody wants to be your friend
First and foremost, the song Everybody Wants to Be Your Friend by Amy Holland is about the pressure of fame and the toll it takes on an individual. The song acknowledges the fact that everybody wants to be friends with someone famous, but that being liked by everyone comes with a price. The singer is telling the person they care about that it’s okay to prioritize themselves and take a break from trying to please everyone around them. The lyrics "It's a job never done when you're everything to everyone" show that being famous means you have a responsibility to keep up the facade of always being available and perfect, which can be exhausting.
The song also suggests that the person they care about is losing themselves in the process of trying to be everything to everyone. The lyrics "Till you don't have nothing else, You don't even have yourself" illustrate that they are losing sight of who they are because they are consumed by the need to please others. The singer is urging the person to see things from their point of view, as they are losing the person they care about to the ever-demanding world of fame. The repeated lines "Everybody wants to be your friend" emphasize the main theme of the song, that fame can be a lonely and isolating experience, as everyone wants to be seen with the famous person but nobody really knows them.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to tell you what to do
I'm not trying to be controlling, but I am concerned about what you're going through
But it hurts me to see what you go through
Watching you struggle is painful for me
It's a job never done when you're everything to everyone
When you try to please everyone, you're constantly working and never finished
Till you don't have nothing else
Until you're completely drained and have nothing left to give
You don't even have yourself
You're so busy taking care of others that you've forgotten to take care of yourself
Everybody wants to be your friend
People are drawn to you and want to be close to you
They will pull on you and you just bend
Others will ask for your time and attention, and you'll try to accommodate them
Yet you never break
You manage to handle everything that's asked of you without falling apart
Can't you see that that's no way to live
I'm worried that you're sacrificing too much and not living your own life
They will take as long as you will give
People will continue to ask for more and more as long as you keep giving
But that's a choice you make
You have the power to set boundaries and make choices about how much you give to others
May not be true but it's what I believe
I realize that my perspective may not be completely accurate, but it's how I see things
Just trying to tell you what I see
I'm sharing my observations with you because I care about you
It's like you're losin' you
You're losing yourself in the process of trying to please others
If you could see it through my eyes
I wish you could understand my perspective
Maybe you would realize
Perhaps if you saw things from my point of view, you'd have a different understanding
From my point of view
I'm viewing the situation from my own perspective
Guess I'm lookin' through my eyes
I'm trying to see things objectively, but I know my own experiences influence my view
Tryin' to make you realize
I'm attempting to help you see the situation in a new light
Everybody wants to be your friend
Once again, people are attracted to you and want to be close to you
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.