Producer Frank Dukes confirmed via Instagram that the song includes a sample played and sung by students from the Regent Park School of Music, based in Toronto, Canada. Royalties from the use of this sample will help fund the school’s curriculum.
When asked about which song on Lover hits her heart the most at the Tokyo Q&A/M&G event on November 6, 2019, Taylor responded with:
"There’s a song on "Lover" about flashback and childhood, it compares childhood friendships to when you find someone to fall in love with when you’re older, called “It’s Nice To Have A Friend.” It’s very nostalgic."
She also told Billboard:
"It was fun to write a song that was just verses, because my whole body and soul wants to make a chorus — every time I sit down to write a song, I’m like, ‘Okay, chorus time, let’s get the chorus done.’ But with that song, it was more of like a poem, and a story and a vibe and a feeling of… I love metaphors that kind of have more than one meaning, and I think I loved the idea that, on an album called "Lover", we all want love, we all want to find somebody to see our sights with and hear things with and experience things with. But at the end of the day we’ve been searching for that since we were kids! When you had a friend when you were nine years old, and that friend was all you talked about, and you wanted to have sleepovers and you wanted to walk down the street together and sit there drawing pictures together or be silent together, or be talking all night. We’re just looking for that, but endless sparks, as adults."
It’s Nice to Have a Friend
Taylor Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ooh)
School bell rings, walk me home
Sidewalk chalk covered in snow
Lost my gloves, you give me one
"Wanna hang out?"
Yeah, sounds like fun
Sleeping in tents
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
Light pink sky up on the roof
Sun sinks down, no curfew
Twenty questions, we tell the truth
You've been stressed out lately? Yeah, me too
Something gave you the nerve
To touch my hand
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
Church bells ring, carry me home
Rice on the ground looks like snow
Call my bluff, call you "babe"
Have my back, yeah, everyday
Feels like home, stay in bed
The whole weekend
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
The song “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” by Taylor Swift is a simple yet emotional song about the joys of friendship. The song takes the listener on a journey through different stages of friendship, highlighting moments of youthful innocence, vulnerability, and camaraderie. The opening verse sets a playful tone with images of walking home from school, playing video games, and passing notes. The second verse takes a more introspective turn, with the friends sharing personal truths about their stress and anxieties. The final verse brings the song full circle, ending with the image of the singer being carried home and feeling safe and supported by her friend.
The song captures the enduring essence of friendship - a bond that helps us navigate the trials and tribulations of life. The song’s production is minimalist, with a dreamy soundscape that adds to the song’s dreamlike quality. Taylor Swift’s vocal performance is delicate and intimate, adding to the song’s emotional weight. Swift’s lyrics are sparse yet meaningful, conveying the sense of comfort and familiarity that comes with true friendship.
Overall, “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” is a touching ode to the beauty of friendship. The song perfectly captures the feeling of safety and comfort that comes with having a close friend, and it will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced the joys of true friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
School bell rings, walk me home
As the school day ends, my friend walks me home
Sidewalk chalk covered in snow
The snow covers the colorful chalk drawings on the sidewalk
Lost my gloves, you give me one
As I lost one of my gloves, my friend gives me one of theirs to keep me warm
"Wanna hang out?" Yeah, sounds like fun
My friend invites me to hang out and I enthusiastically accept
Video games, you pass me a note
We play video games together and my friend passes me a note
Sleeping in tents
We spend a night sleeping in tents
It's nice to have a friend (Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend (Ooh)
Having a close friend like this is wonderful
Light pink sky up on the roof
We admire the beautiful pink sky while sitting on the roof
Sun sinks down, no curfew
As the sun sets, we have no curfew to keep us from enjoying our time together
Twenty questions, we tell the truth
We play a game of twenty questions, where we both tell the truth
You've been stressed out lately? Yeah, me too
We confide in each other about our recent stress and worries
Something gave you the nerve
To touch my hand
There is a sense of intimacy and comfort between us, as evidenced by physical touch
Church bells ring, carry me home
As we part ways, the church bells ring and I am taken home
Rice on the ground looks like snow
The scattered rice on the ground resembles a snowy landscape
Call my bluff, call you "babe"
We tease and flirt with each other, using terms of endearment
Have my back, yeah, everyday
We support and stand by each other through all situations, every day
Feels like home, stay in bed
The whole weekend
Our time together is so comfortable and familiar that it feels like home, and we spend the whole weekend lounging in bed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Adam King Feeney, Louis Bell, Taylor Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
chương ksor
School bell rings, walk me home
Sidewalk chalk covered in snow
Lost my gloves, you give me one
"Wanna hang out?"
Yeah, sounds like fun
Video games, you pass me a note
Sleeping in tents
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
Light pink sky up on the roof
Sun sinks down, no curfew
Twenty questions, we tell the truth
You've been stressed out lately? Yeah, me too
Something gave you the nerve
To touch my hand
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
Church bells ring, carry me home
Rice on the ground looks like snow
Call my bluff, call you "babe"
Have my back, yeah, everyday
Feels like home, stay in bed
The whole weekend
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
It's nice to have a friend
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
Kailee Rose
my favorite thing about this song is how much power taylor puts into the words “it’s nice to have a friend” simply by changing her tone of voice each time she sings it. here’s what i mean:
the first time around, right after “sleeping in tents,” taylor sings it very neutrally because her relationship with the person she’s talking to (joe, as we know😂) is still very casual.
second time, after “something gave you the nerve to touch my hand,” taylor puts a mischievous emphasis on the word “friend” to signify that, at this point, she’s pretty sure she and joe aren’t just friends anymore.
and the third time, after “stay in bed the whole weekend,” taylor sings it very softly and sincerely. because not only is joe her lover now; he’s also her best friend.
listen back on the song; you’ll definitely notice it if you didn’t already!
Mediha Vildic
If "Nice to have a friend" was on Folklore it would have gotten the attention it deserves...
ana r
You mean it's not?
Ranpo
Dont worry Swifties has attention;)
Emily Nasson
AMEN SISTER OR BROTHER NOT GONNA ASSUME YOUR GENDER
nithya
@Ranpo not even swifties give inthaf the attention it deserves so many people say they don’t like it or skip it :(
nithya
Amaya Peairs TASTE!!
oikawaii toru
3 years ago didn't expect this gonna use as a horror movie theme song 😭
Eddie Roman
Megan yeah
Lily Hamoody
@Eddie Roman right
-krblxg-
Exactly!