You've gotta friend

There are certain songs that never age even after decades and one of such song is You've gotta friend by James Taylor. I heard this freshly released light rock song in the early 70s and has since resided in my memory till day along with its complete lyrics that I never forgot - even a  single line.

Just yesterday, I was just listening to this song again from my nostalgic collection and like always I drifted into my early teens - despite the fact that the ear was that of the hard rock, but this softly sung song fascinated me and moved the music loving chords inside me. Not only the song is sung beautifully by James Taylor, its lyrics are equally rich in substance, moving one's emotions. Before I share the video below, please go over the lyrics once, and then listen to the song as it does not have a moving video - in those days many songs were like this. 

When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name, and you know where ever 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, yeah, yeah,
you've got a friend.

If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow,
keep your head together and call my name out loud.
Soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever 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.

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you. Well, they'll take your soul if you let them,
oh yeah, but don't you let them.

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, Lord, I'll be there, yeah, yeah,
you've got a friend. You've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend. Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Oh, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend.

James Taylor is a  singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Now listen to the original song, sung by James Taylor in 1971s:

And like me, James Taylor has also aged with time - but his song remains as popular and heart moving and warming today as it was decades ago. Here is the 2009 version of the song sung by James Taylor. Watch some of the audience in their 40s and 50s enjoying the song - enjoying the nostalgia of the bygone days and youth:

Photo Friendship courtesy Friendship Day Wishes and Quotes
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