Lead vocalist Danny Wilde began his musical career as the lead singer of The Quick, an L.A.-based punk and power pop inspired combo briefly popular in the late 70s, breaking through with their song "Pretty Please Me". The musical duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem had roots in an early 80s new wave/power pop band, called Great Buildings, which released a single critically-lauded album on Columbia in 1981. Although spawning minor hits in "Hold On To Something" and "Maybe It's You", major success eluded the outfit.
After they disbanded, Wilde released a series of slick 80s solo albums before rejoining with his former partner to form the Rembrandts. Initially, the band was heavily indebted to simplistic guitar pop reminiscent of early work from The Beatles and The Everly Brothers. They also took serious inspiration from pop contemporaries such as Squeeze and Crowded House. Their first, self-titled album, released in 1990, featured the surprise #14 hit "Just the Way It Is, Baby", which managed to claw its way onto top 40 playlists despite sounding out of place for the time. Follow-up singles "Someone" and "Save Me" also garnered some airplay.
Their second record, released two years later (and titled, humorously, 'Untitled') also spawned minor hits in the brooding, violin-spiked "Johnny, Have You Seen Her?" and the breezy "Rolling Down the Hill". Both songs showed the band's partial influence from alternative rock groups. In 1995, however, the Rembrandts became a surprise, seemingly-overnight success when they recorded the theme song to the program 'Friends', a ditty reminiscent of British invasion groups called "I'll Be There For You",
The song became an instant smash based on its thirty-second TV version. Interestingly enough, they recorded the full-length version of "I'll Be There For You" only after the shorter version was recorded specifically for the TV show. The band was busy prepping their third release, 'L.P.', at the time that "I'll Be There For You" became so successful, and it was shoehorned last minute onto the end of the track order (initial pressings omit the song on the track list). Unfortunately, much of the new audience generated by the hit didn't take a shine to the rest of the low-key pop rock on the disc. The album went platinum and picked up supportive critical reviews, but it has become something of a lost 90s classic. A few follow-up singles, notably "This House Is Not a Home", generated a small amount of interest, but nothing compared to that of the 'Friends' theme.
The sudden shift in the band's fanbase-- where they had gone from being a low-flying critical success to a discarded 'one-hit-wonder' in the popular consciousness-- took its toll on the band, especially Solem. He outright quit several years later. Danny Wilde produced another Rembrandts album without him, but it was a commercial failure. In 2001, however, the duo reunited for 'Lost Together', their fourth album as a duo and fifth overall. A greatest hits compilation was released in 2006, displaying that the band did in fact have a singles history far deeper than the 'Friends' theme. As time has gone on, they've also had a cult following among power pop fans.
I'll Be There For You
The Rembrandts Lyrics
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Your job's a joke, you're broke
Your love life's DOA
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year, but
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast
So far, things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that
I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year
I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
The lyrics to The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There For You" follow the theme of friendship and loyalty, with a focus on being there for someone through the ups and downs of life. The song starts off describing the difficulties of life, with lines such as "No one told you life was gonna be this way" and "Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA." It then emphasizes the feeling of being stuck in a rut with the lyrics, "It's like you're always stuck in second gear, when it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year."
However, the song offers a hopeful message through the chorus, which reassures the listener that the singer will be there for them through thick and thin. The lines, "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour, like I've been there before," are repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the idea of being there for each other, no matter what.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of being understood and known by another person, with the lines, "No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me, seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me." The idea of having someone to face the day with and laugh with, even at your worst, highlights the importance of having a strong support system in life.
Overall, the lyrics to "I'll Be There For You" showcase the power of friendship and emphasize the idea of being there for one another through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Life's hardships can feel unexpected and overwhelming.
Your job's a joke, you're broke
Your financial situation isn't great due to your job.
Your love life's DOA
Your romantic life is not fulfilling and lacks spark.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
It appears as if you are not making any progress in life's endeavors.
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Things have been rough for a while now.
Or even your year, but
Even on the worst days, there's still hope.
I'll be there for you
I am here to support and comfort you through the hard times.
(When the rain starts to pour)
Even when it seems like everything is going wrong and life seems to be pouring rain.
(Like I've been there before)
I've been in your shoes before and know how you feel.
('Cause you're there for me too)
It's a two-way street; we support each other through thick and thin.
You're still in bed at ten
Feeling demotivated and lethargic, you are still in bed at a late hour.
And work began at eight
Your workday started two hours ago.
You've burned your breakfast
Even the most basic tasks seem to be going wrong today.
So far, things are going great
Sarcasm used to express disappointment in how the day is unfolding.
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
You've been forewarned about tough times and that they are inevitable.
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought
Your mother didn't tell you when these difficult days would arrive.
You down to your knees that
When these days come, they can feel like a punch to the gut, knocking you down.
No one could ever know me
You feel as though no one can truly understand you and what you're going through.
No one could ever see me
Feeling invisible, you feel others do not notice your struggles.
Seems you're the only one who knows
You think no one else could possibly comprehend what's going on in your life.
What it's like to be me
You feel isolated with the struggles that come with your life situation and no one can truly relate to you.
Someone to face the day with
You need someone to help you overcome your difficulties.
Make it through all the rest with
You need someone to help you navigate through every problem that life throws at you.
Someone I'll always laugh with
You need someone who will bring a smile to your face even during tough times.
Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah
With your friend by your side, even during your worst, you can be the best version of yourself.
I'll be there for you
Your friend will always be there to support you.
I'll be there for you
Your ride or die friend is a shoulder to cry on and someone to make life's dull moments exciting.
I'll be there for you
You'll always have someone to rely on during the tough times.
('Cause you're there for me too)
A reminder that friendship goes both ways and you are also there for your friend when they need you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Jay Skloff, David L Crane, Marta Fran Kauffman, Allee Willis, Philip Ronald Solem, Danny C Wilde
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind