1) Paul Hamilton Wil… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists named Paul Williams;
1) Paul Hamilton Williams Jr. (born September 19, 1940) is an American composer, singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for writing popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s, including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song" and "Out in the Country," Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World," David Bowie's "Fill Your Heart" and the Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays."
Williams is also known for his musical contributions to films, including the Academy Award-nominated song "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie, and penning the lyrics to the #1 chart-topping song "Evergreen," the love theme from the Barbra Streisand vehicle A Star Is Born, for which he won a Grammy for Song of the Year and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He wrote the lyrics to the opening theme for the television show The Love Boat, with music previously composed by Charles Fox, which was originally sung by Jack Jones and, later, by Dionne Warwick.
Williams had a variety of high-profile acting roles, such as "Little Enos Burdette" in the action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and the villainous Swan in Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise (1974), which Williams also co-scored, receiving an Oscar nomination in the process.
Williams was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Paul Hamilton Williams, an architectural engineer, and his wife, Bertha Mae (née Burnside), a homemaker.
His father died in a car accident in 1953, when Williams was 13 years old, after which Williams grew up living with his aunt. As a result, Williams moved to Long Beach, California with his family and attended Woodrow Wilson Classical High School.
One of his brothers was John J. Williams, a NASA rocket scientist, who participated in the Mercury and Apollo programs and was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, their highest honor, in 1969. His other brother was Mentor Williams, a songwriter as well who penned Dobie Gray's 1973 hit "Drift Away".
2) Paul Williams (born August 7, 1992 in Nelson, New Zealand) is a musician, singer, rapper and comedian. He has released three albums - Songs About Girls, Jungle River Adventures, and Surf Music. His music videos often feature other members of the New Zealand comedy scene, include Chris Parker, Rose Matafeo and Brynley Stent. Outside of his music, Paul is best known for being the Taskmaster's Assistant in Taskmaster NZ. His musical influences include Kanye West, The Strokes, Drake, Animal Collective, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi, and MGMT.
3) Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams (July 13, 1915 – September 14, 2002) was an American rhythm and blues bandleader, songwriter and saxophonist. He composed "The Hucklebuck", a twelve-bar blues that also spawned the dance craze of the same name.
4) Paul Williams is a British guitarist and Gospel artist.
5) Paul Williams is a Canadian electronic artist.
That's What Friends Are For
Paul Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes they're sad
Sometimes they're lonely
And need to be told that they're loved
Everyone needs to be loved
Friends are like good wine
And I've had the best
But no one knows better than I
So drink up
I'm a homesick old sailor
Who longs for the sound of his own front door
Tell me your stories
I'll teach you my songs
And we'll have one more
Isn't that what friends are for
Isn't that what friends are for
Friends are like warm clothes
In the night air
Best when they're old
And we miss them the most when they're gone
Miss them the most when they're gone
Friends love your good side
And live with your bad
Want you and need you
When no one else knows you're alive
So drink up
I'm a homesick old sailor
Who longs for the sound of his own front door
Tell me your stories
I'll teach you my songs
And we'll have one more
Isn't that what friends are for
Isn't that what friends are for
In Paul Williams's song "That's What Friends Are For," the singer expresses the value of true friendship. The songwriter uses a beautiful simile to illustrate that friends are like music, which can be melancholic and lonely at times. He acknowledges that even the closest of friends need to hear that they are loved. Williams goes on to compare friendship to a good wine, which gets better with age. Friends are a source of comfort and warmth, particularly during challenging times.
The songwriter then shares that he is a homesick old sailor who misses the sound of his own front door. He invites his friend to share their stories, and in turn, he'll share his songs. By doing so, they can console each other and cherish the companionship. Williams emphasizes that friends will love and support us in good times and through the bad. Ultimately, friends are the source of comfort and love when no one else knows us.
Line by Line Meaning
Friends are like music
Friends have different emotions, just like music can be happy or sad.
Sometimes they're sad
Friends can be sad and need comfort.
Sometimes they're lonely
Friends can feel lonely and need companionship.
And need to be told that they're loved
Friends need to be reminded that they are loved and appreciated.
Everyone needs to be loved
Everyone desires to be loved, including friends.
Friends are like good wine
Friends are like good wine, they get better with age.
And I've had the best
I am grateful to have had great friends in my life.
Don't always show it
I may not always express my gratitude for my friends.
But no one knows better than I
Despite not showing it, I know how much my friends mean to me.
So drink up
Let's enjoy each other's company.
I'm a homesick old sailor
I am longing for the comfort of my own home.
Who longs for the sound of his own front door
I miss the familiarity of my home.
Tell me your stories
Let's share our life experiences with each other.
I'll teach you my songs
Let me share my joys and passions with you.
And we'll have one more
Let's enjoy one more moment together.
Isn't that what friends are for
Being there for each other is what true friendship is all about.
Friends are like warm clothes
Friends provide warmth and comfort, especially during difficult times.
In the night air
During the darkest times when we need a friend the most.
Best when they're old
Old friends are cherished and have a special place in our hearts.
And we miss them the most when they're gone
We miss our friends the most when they are no longer with us.
Friends love your good side
True friends love and accept all parts of you, good and bad.
And live with your bad
They stay by your side through the good times and the bad.
Want you and need you
Friends want and need you in their lives.
When no one else knows you're alive
During times when you feel like nobody else cares, friends are there to prove otherwise.
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.