"Friends" peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in th… Read Full Bio ↴"Friends" peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in the Autumn of 1973.

Friends
Bette Midler Lyrics

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And I am all alone.
There is no one here beside me.
And my problems have all gone,
There is no one to deride me.

But you got to have friends the feeling's of so strong.
You got to have friends to make the day last long.

I got some friends but they're gone
Someone came and took them away
And from the dusk till the dawn here is where I'll stay.

Standing at the end of the world boys
Waiting for my new friends to come.
I don't care if I'm hungry or poor,
I'm gonna get some of them.

'Cause you got to have friends.
'Cause you got to have friends.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bette Midler's song, "Friends," describe the singer's feelings of loneliness and the importance of having true friends in her life. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song with the singer expressing a sense of solitude, "And I am all alone. There is no one here beside me." As the song continues, the singer explains that her problems have vanished since there is no one around to criticize her. However, she recognizes that having friends in life is critical for personal fulfillment, expressing that "you got to have friends, the feeling's so strong. You got to have friends to make the day last long."

The second verse speaks to the idea that the singer once had close friends but has since lost them, "I got some friends, but they're gone. Someone came and took them away." She goes on to lament that she will remain alone from dusk until dawn, standing at the end of the world, waiting for new friends to come. Despite not having food or riches, the singer declares her resolve to find new friends and the importance of having them in her life.

Overall, "Friends" is a poignant reflection on the emotional impact of loneliness and the significance of having genuine connections with others. It's a reminder that we need people in our lives who see us, accept us, and stand by us through thick and thin.

Line by Line Meaning

And I am all alone.
I am currently by myself.

There is no one here beside me.
There is no one physically present with me in this moment.

And my problems have all gone,
I no longer feel weighed down by my troubles.

There is no one to deride me.
There is no one to insult me or put me down.

But you got to have friends the feeling's of so strong.
Having friends can create a powerful emotional connection.

You got to have friends to make the day last long.
Having friends can make time feel like it's passing more slowly and enjoyably.

I got some friends but they're gone
I used to have friends, but they are no longer in my life.

Someone came and took them away
Something or someone caused my friends to leave.

And from the dusk till the dawn here is where I'll stay.
I will be alone for a while, possibly for the whole night.

Standing at the end of the world boys
Metaphorical imagery representing feeling isolated or alone.

Waiting for my new friends to come.
Hopeful expectation that new friends will come into my life.

I don't care if I'm hungry or poor,
I am willing to give up material comforts for the sake of gaining friends.

I'm gonna get some of them.
I am determined to find and make new friends.

'Cause you got to have friends.
Stating the central theme that having friends is essential.

'Cause you got to have friends.
Repeating the central theme for emphasis.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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