Just Friends
Wes Montgomery & Clark Terry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just friends, but not like before
To think of what we've been and not to kiss again
Seems like pretending it isn't the ending
Two friends drifting apart
Two friends, but one broken heart
We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died
The lyrics of Just Friends by Wes Montgomery and The Billy Taylor Trio explore the end of a romantic relationship and the transition back into a platonic friendship. The song reflects on the shared experiences and emotions that defined the relationship, but ultimately acknowledges that the love has died and the two parties must move on. The opening lines, "Just friends, lovers no more / Just friends, but not like before" establish the new dynamic between the two people, with the repetition of "just friends" emphasizing the finality of the change.
The latter half of the song delves into the pain and heartbreak that often accompanies the end of a relationship. The line "Two friends, but one broken heart" highlights the asymmetry of the situation, with one person still harboring romantic feelings while the other has moved on. The nostalgia of "We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died" further emphasizes the depth of the former relationship and the abruptness of its end. Overall, the lyrics of Just Friends offer a poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the difficulties of navigating their transitions.
Line by Line Meaning
Just friends, lovers no more
We used to be lovers, but now we are just friends
Just friends, but not like before
We are still friends, but our relationship has changed
To think of what we've been and not to kiss again
It's hard to think of our past relationship and not feel the desire to kiss again
Seems like pretending it isn't the ending
It feels like we are pretending that our relationship isn't really over
Two friends drifting apart
We are growing apart as friends
Two friends, but one broken heart
We are still friends, but one of us is hurting from the end of our romantic relationship
We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died
We had a great romantic relationship full of love, laughter, and tears, but it suddenly ended
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN KLENNER, SAM M. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
icecreamforcrowhurst
Wes is just amazing. This guy never played a wrong note in his life. How is that even possible?
Mark Stephens
He was incapable of playing a wrong note. As great as I am sure you thought Wes was, he was 1000×'s greater than that.
Michael Fan
Wes actually hits a wrong note here: https://youtu.be/-iVgONy8kMY but that’s the only clam I’ve ever heard him make!
cj green
Seriously, I want to know too, not once. Not even people with perfect pitch, perfect intervallic ears, etc. are this capable of perfection, much less gorgeous melodies, MUCH LESS playing said melodies spontaneously without prior preparation. Keep in mind this is all without mentioning his chord (much different than soloing only with single notes), which despite him not knowing intermediate+ theory, are occassionally highly advanced
GeorgiaBoy1961
Re: "Wes is just amazing. This guy never played a wrong note in his life. How is that even possible?"
The word "genius" gets overused - a lot - in the context of popular music - but the term is entirely apt in the case of John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery. He was the real thing, a musical genius in every sense of the word. Even his fellow jazz performers, many of them elite players themselves, were in awe of his talent. Great bassist and fellow Indianapolis jamming partner Larry Ridley said after his death, "Wes had something only God can give a man..."
Bailey Ayyy
Theres no wrong notes, only wrong resolutions.
Louise F.
One of my total favorite jazz tunes... "Just Friends"....so damn beautiful! Lovely rendition, this.
Ferreira Ronald
Two great jazz musicians together,Wes and Clark, what else can you expect, just jazz at its best.
Galen Hunsucker
Hearing Wes changed the course of my life....God bless him.
Gary Furuta
Me to! I was a junior in high school in 1963 when my classmate introduced me to his music and jazz back in 1963! That friend just died. I don't think I ever thanked him for the education he provided.