Robert Tilden (a.k.a. Bobby T.) is a 16 year-old Los Angeles native who rec… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Tilden (a.k.a. Bobby T.) is a 16 year-old Los Angeles native who recorded the raucous debut LP "Peach Fuzz," an album of punky, garage-rock nuggets in his basement with a detuned borrowed drumkit, his dad's guitar, second-hand mics, and broken mic-stands. He assembled a live band of his close friends ("The Slackers" or "Slackettes") Cleo Tucker (of Cleo Tucker) and Sanam Tiffany (of Fig's Vision and Salmon) to fully realize the 3 minutes or less bubblegum punk tunes from "Peach Fuzz" and other releases. Bobby T. and the Slackers play frequently in the Los Angeles area.

Friend
Bobby T. and the Slackers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm not your enemy, I'm the friend that you need
I'm not your enemy, I'm the friend that you need
It was never my intention to drive you away
You choose your own direction, to where I can't say

I heard that things are ending, and you're hiding from me
You think that I sold you out, but that's all in your mind,
All in your mind

[Chorus]
It may be a long time,
A long time indeed
I may not be the friend you want,
But I'm the friend that you need

Do you think I have forgotten when you helped me out
I was down on my race and you pulled me back
From where I was living, from the street at the end
Don't think I forgot all that, now do you my friend

[Chorus]

I heard you've been hanging out in all those places
You know you shouldn't go,
Hanging out with all those people,
That I know you shouldn't know

Where do you think this life is,
Where do you think this life,
Where do you think this life is,
Is gonna go?

So call me up sometime,
When you're done with your cocaine and speed
I may not be the friend you want,
But I'm the friend that you need
I'm the friend that you need

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Friend" by Bobby T. and the Slackers is a touching ode to a friend who is going through a difficult phase in their life. The lyrics are emotion-filled and introspective, with the singer admitting that they are not the kind of friend their troubled companion would want, but the kind of friend they need. The song begins with the singer reassuring their friend that they are not their enemy, even if they feel that they have been betrayed in some way. The singer acknowledges that it was never their intention to drive their friend away and that their friend has chosen their own path to which they cannot offer any input.

The chorus is a poignant reminder that friendship is unconditional and enduring. The singer acknowledges that they may not be the kind of friend their companion wants, but is the kind of friend they need. The middle section of the song is about memories of the past and how the friend helped the singer when they were in a similar situation. The lyrics remind the listener that memories of friendship persist and that they can never be undone. The song ends with the singer imploring their friend to call them sometime when they have put their troubled times behind them, reassuring them once again that they may not be the friend they want, but they are the friend they need.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not your enemy, I'm the friend that you need
I want to establish that I'm not someone who is against you, but a person who will always stand by you as a friend.

It was never my intention to drive you away
I want you to know that I never wanted to push you away from me, and any distance between us was unintended.

You choose your own direction, to where I can't say
I acknowledge that everyone has their own path in life, which I may not always understand or agree with.

You think that I sold you out, but that's all in your mind,
You believe that I betrayed you, but that thought is solely in your mind and without basis in reality.

It may be a long time, A long time indeed
It could be a while until we reconnect and become close again, maybe even longer than we realize at the moment.

I may not be the friend you want, But I'm the friend that you need
I know I may not be what you necessarily want or expect in a friend, but I promise to be supportive and helpful when you need me.

Do you think I have forgotten when you helped me out
I have a clear memory of when you came to my aid and displayed your kindness towards me.

Don't think I forgot all that, now do you my friend
Don't assume that I have forgotten about all the wonderful things you've done for me, my dear friend.

I heard you've been hanging out in all those places
I am aware that you've been frequenting certain places that might not be the best for you.

Where do you think this life is, Is gonna go?
I'm curious about where you see your life heading and what future plans you may have.

So call me up sometime, When you're done with your cocaine and speed
I urge you to reach out to me when you've had enough of drugs and want someone to talk to who genuinely cares.

I'm the friend that you need
I believe that I can provide you with the necessary support and guidance to help you navigate through tough times as a true friend.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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