Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938 in Durham, North Carolina) is an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938 in Durham, North Carolina) is an American Gospel music singer. She is a multi-award winner with eleven Grammy awards and seven Dove awards to her credit. She is a graduate of Shaw University with a degree in Business Administration. She also received an honorary doctorate from Shaw University and another one from Southeastern University.

Pastor Shirley has recorded over forty albums since the 60s exploring her gift and spreading messages of faith. She has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, Mama I Want to Sing, Sing: Mama 2, and Born to Sing: Mama 3. Her credits also include a series of commercials for MCI Communications and several awards for her recordings. She has been awarded 11 Grammy Awards, 13 Stellar Awards, 18 Doves, 3 RIAA gold certifications, an Essence Award, McDonald's Golden Circle Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP Achievement Award, SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Pastor Shirley has made several notable appearances including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH-1, a White House performance for George Bush, and a speech on the Evolution of Gospel Music to the US Treasury Department.
She has blessed so many around the world and will remain an example.

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Shirley Caesar Lyrics

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You are my friend,
I never knew it till then
My friend, my friend

You hold my hand,
You might not say a word
But I see your tears when I show my pain

You're my, my friend
I never knew it till then
My friend
I feel your love,
When you're not near
It helps me make it knowing you care

The thought of you helps me carry on
When I feel all hope is gone
I see the world with brand new eyes
Your love has made me realize
My future looks bright to me,
Oh because you are my friend
You are my friend

[Repeats in background]
I've been looking around and you were here all the time
I've been around and around and around and around
I've been looking around and you were here all the time

You know what I've been doing

I've been looking [Repeat: x7]

Overall Meaning

The song "You Are My Friend" by Shirley Caesar is about the discovery of a true friend. In the first verse, Caesar sings about how she never knew someone was her friend until that person held her hand and showed concern when she was in pain. This realization is repeated throughout the song, with the chorus stating that "you are my friend" and that the friendship has helped Caesar see the world in a new, positive way.

The second verse takes on a more introspective tone, with Caesar reflecting on how she feels her friend's love even when they are not together. She uses this love to help her carry on when she feels hopeless. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, along with the background voices repeating the line "I've been looking around and you were here all the time."

Overall, the song is a celebration of friendship and an acknowledgment of the positive impact that true friends can have on one's life.

Line by Line Meaning

You are my friend,
You are someone who is important to me and with whom I share a special bond.

I never knew it till then
It wasn't until a certain moment that I realized how much you meant to me.

My friend, my friend
You are my friend, and I want to emphasize that fact.

You hold my hand,
You offer me comfort and support in times of need.

You might not say a word
You don't need to speak to me for me to feel your presence and support.

But I see your tears when I show my pain
You empathize with me and feel my pain, even if you don't express it with words.

You're my, my friend
You are someone who is important to me, and I want to emphasize that fact again.

I feel your love,
I sense how much you care for me, even when you're not physically present.

When you're not near
Even when we're apart, I still feel your love and support.

It helps me make it knowing you care
Knowing that you care for me gives me the strength to persevere during difficult times.

The thought of you helps me carry on
Just the memory or the idea of you gives me the motivation to keep going, even when things are tough.

When I feel all hope is gone
In my moments of despair and hopelessness, you are the beacon of light that guides me through.

I see the world with brand new eyes
Your love and support has made me appreciate the world around me with fresh perspective and optimism.

Your love has made me realize
I have come to understand the depth of your love and how it has positively impacted my life.

My future looks bright to me,
Thanks to your friendship, I am now filled with hope and optimism for what's to come.

Oh because you are my friend
I attribute my newfound positive outlook to your unwavering support, which has made all the difference.

I've been looking around and you were here all the time
I might have taken you for granted or overlooked our friendship, but now I see that you have always been a constant in my life.

I've been around and around and around and around
I've been through a lot, and I may have lost my way at times, but you have been a constant presence all along.

You know what I've been doing
You understand my struggles and have been patiently supporting me through them.

I've been looking
I am now actively seeking to appreciate and acknowledge our friendship.

Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: MARTY PAICH, GLEN CAMPBELL, TRADITIONAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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