You've Got a Friend
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway Lyrics

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Ooh-hoo-hoo
Ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo

When you're down and troubled
And you need some lovin' care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Mm, close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You got a friend

Ain't it good to know that you got a friend?
People can be so cold, yeah
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, running, running, running, running, running
To see you again
Look out
Hey
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there (I'll be there)
You got a friend

Say it again (ooh-hoo)
You got a friend (you got a friend, indeed)
You got a friend, oh, darlin'
You got a friend (do you mean it?)
You got a friend

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You got a friend

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "You've Got a Friend" are a poetic expression of unconditional love, support, and loyalty between friends. The song talks about being there for someone in their time of need, no matter what time of day or year it is. The opening lines of the song "When you're down and troubled / And you need some lovin' care / And nothing, nothing is going right" sets the tone of the song and speaks to the universality of human suffering. However, the rest of the lyrics provide comfort and hope, urging the listener to remember that they are not alone and that they can always count on the friendship of the singer.

The chorus, "You just call out my name / And you know wherever I am / I'll come running to see you again / Winter, spring, summer, or fall / All you have to do is call / And I'll be there / You've got a friend," is a repeated reminder of the unbreakable bond of the friendship. The emotional climax of the song comes in the bridge when the singer contrasts the trueness of friendship with the fickleness of other relationships: "Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend / When people can be so cold / They'll hurt you, and desert you / And take your soul if you let them / Oh, but don't you let them."

In summary, "You've Got a Friend" is a timeless expression of the power of friendship that has resonated with audiences for over 50 years.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're down and troubled
When you feel sad and burdened

And you need some lovin' care
And you require some affection and attention

And nothing, nothing is going right
And everything seems to be going wrong

Mm, close your eyes and think of me
Imagine me in your mind with your eyes closed

And soon I will be there
I will be there soon to support you

To brighten up even your darkest night
To bring happiness to your toughest moments

You just call out my name
Simply say my name

And you know wherever I am
And you can be sure that no matter where I am

I'll come running to see you again
I'll come to meet you as soon as I hear from you

Winter, spring, summer or fall
At any time of the year