Friend
Puff Daddy & The Family Lyrics


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they tell us that our friends aren't important
because there's work to be done
but i'd rather be poor and live with my friends
than be rich and die all alone
the lust for money has turned people numb
their obsessions over power the fright
they don't even know or care what they've done
they'd kill if the price was right
but friends can work out their problems
and make the hard times quickly pass
a life full of pleasure and good times
a feeling of love that will last
a life without worry of power or greed

it's the only life we've got
there's much more to life than increasing it's speed
too precious to every be bought
and so you lost all your friends
because of this game
think you'll buy more later on,
but the friends that you bought




aren't even the same
'cause all yuor real friends are gone

Overall Meaning

These emotionally charged lyrics by Puff Daddy & The Family speak to the importance of friendship and the destructive nature of greed and materialism. Puff Daddy begins by acknowledging that society often tells us to prioritize work over relationships, but he rejects this notion, valuing his friendships over any monetary gain. He emphasizes the numbness that can come with a lust for money and power, and how this can lead people to lose sight of what's truly important. Puff Daddy warns of the dangers of greed and the lengths that some people will go to for financial gain, including murder.


Despite these dark themes, the song ends on a hopeful note. Puff Daddy reminds us that friends can work through their problems and provide a support system during difficult times. He emphasizes the importance of living a life full of pleasure, good times, and love, without worrying about the accumulation of power or possessions. The final lines of the song are a poignant reminder of the true cost of greed and the loss that it can bring: "all your real friends are gone." In these lyrics, Puff Daddy urges us to prioritize our relationships and reject the empty promises of materialism.


Line by Line Meaning

they tell us that our friends aren't important
Society, in general, emphasizes that work is more important than friends.


because there's work to be done
Work is considered more valuable than friendship in contemporary society.


but i'd rather be poor and live with my friends
The singer values familial relations more than materialistic things or wealth.


than be rich and die all alone
The artist believes that wealth cannot replace the feeling of happiness and love that comes from having good, trustworthy friends.


the lust for money has turned people numb
People have lost their empathy and concern for others because of their obsession with money.


their obsessions over power the fright
People's urge to control, dominate, and have power over others is greater than their fear of being alone.


they don't even know or care what they've done
People's ambition to acquire wealth and power at any cost adversely affects their ability to sympathize with others.


they'd kill if the price was right
People are willing to go to great lengths, even commit heinous acts, to get what they want.


but friends can work out their problems
Friends are capable of resolving their disagreements and getting over difficult periods with time.


and make the hard times quickly pass
Friends can turn challenging circumstances into a better time by supporting each other.


a life full of pleasure and good times
Having friends provides continuous enjoyment, real fun, and laughter.


a feeling of love that will last
The emotional bond between friends is so strong that it will last a lifetime.


a life without worry of power or greed
A life spent with true friends is spent without concern for power or selfish interest.


it's the only life we've got
We must value the present moment and prioritize the things that truly make you happy, such as friends.


there's much more to life than increasing it's speed
Life has more to offer than the desire to accumulate wealth and power quickly.


too precious to every be bought
The worth and value of good friends cannot be measured by any amount of money.


and so you lost all your friends
The obsession for power and money can make us lose our true friends.


because of this game
The singer refers to ambition, success, and competition as a game in this context.


think you'll buy more later on,
The singer implies that wealth and power cannot replace the genuine companionship that comes from having loyal friends.


but the friends that you bought
The artist implies that one cannot buy true friends by offering cash, riches, or material benefits.


aren't even the same
Fake or bought friends may not be genuine, trustworthy, and loving friends that the artist initially lost because of the obsession with power and money.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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