A Beautiful Friendship
George Shearing; Nat King Cole Lyrics

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Nat King Cole
A Beautiful Friendship Lyrics

This is the end of a beautiful friendship,
It ended a moment ago.
This is the end of a beautiful friendship,
I know,
'Cause your eyes told me so.

We've always been
Like sister and brother,
Until tonight,
When we looked at each other.

That was the end of a beautiful friendship,
And just the beginning of love.

~interlude~

That was the end of a beautiful friendship,
And just the beginning of love!

Overall Meaning

The song A Beautiful Friendship as sung by Nat King Cole is a poignant description of a relationship that had, until then, been a beautiful friendship but ended abruptly when the two parties looked into each other's eyes and realized that their relationship could be more than just companionship. Cole sings that it is the end of their friendship and the start of something much deeper. The song represents the pain that can come with romantic relationships, particularly when they come at the expense of a previously strong friendship. The song speaks to the complexity of human relationships and how they can evolve and change over time.

The lyrics of A Beautiful Friendship are particularly moving because they capture the moment when a platonic relationship ends and a romantic one begins. The song reflects the pain and sadness of losing a friend, but it also celebrates the joy of falling in love. The melody and simplicity of the song allow the lyrics to stand out and make an impact on the listener. In many ways, A Beautiful Friendship is a timeless classic that speaks to the universal experiences of loving and losing.

Line by Line Meaning

This is the end of a beautiful friendship,
We must now bid goodbye to our once-beautiful friendship.

It ended a moment ago.
Our friendship just ended recently.

This is the end of a beautiful friendship,
Our friendship has indeed ended.

I know,
I am certain of it.

'Cause your eyes told me so.
I can tell from the look in your eyes that we can no longer stay friends.

We've always been
We have been

Like sister and brother,
As close as siblings,

Until tonight,
Up until this very moment,

When we looked at each other.
When we exchanged a long, knowing gaze.

That was the end of a beautiful friendship,
That moment marked the end of our beautiful friendship.

And just the beginning of love.
And signaled the start of a romantic relationship.