Display Bilingual:

My old friend, I recall 00:21
The times we had hanging on my wall 00:27
I wouldn't trade them for gold 00:31
Cause they laugh and they cry me 00:37
Somehow sanctify me 00:40
They're woven in the stories I have told 00:43
And tell again 00:47
My old friend, I apologize 00:50
For the years that have passed 00:55
Since the last time you and I 00:58
Dusted off those memories 01:00
But the running and the races 01:06
The people and the places 01:09
There's always somewhere else I had to be 01:11
Time gets thin, my old friend 01:16
Don't know why, don't know why 01:24
Don't know why, don't know why 01:34
My old friend, this song's for you 02:00
Cause a few simple verses 02:06
Was the least that I could do 02:08
To tell the world that you were here 02:10
Cause the love and the laughter 02:16
Will live on long after 02:19
All of the sadness and the tears 02:22
We'll meet again, my old friend 02:26
Goodbye, goodbye 02:34
Goodbye, goodbye 02:40
My old friend, my old friend 02:55
Goodbye, goodbye 03:06
03:13

My Old Friend

By
Tim McGraw
Album
Live Like You Were Dying
Viewed
855,580
Learn this song

Lyrics:

[English]

My old friend, I recall

The times we had hanging on my wall

I wouldn't trade them for gold

Cause they laugh and they cry me

Somehow sanctify me

They're woven in the stories I have told

And tell again

My old friend, I apologize

For the years that have passed

Since the last time you and I

Dusted off those memories

But the running and the races

The people and the places

There's always somewhere else I had to be

Time gets thin, my old friend

Don't know why, don't know why

Don't know why, don't know why

My old friend, this song's for you

Cause a few simple verses

Was the least that I could do

To tell the world that you were here

Cause the love and the laughter

Will live on long after

All of the sadness and the tears

We'll meet again, my old friend

Goodbye, goodbye

Goodbye, goodbye

My old friend, my old friend

Goodbye, goodbye

...

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary Meanings

friend

/frɛnd/

A1
  • noun
  • - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection

recall

/rɪˈkɔːl/

B2
  • verb
  • - remember (something); bring (a fact or event) back into one's mind.

times

/taɪmz/

A1
  • noun
  • - an instance of something happening; an occasion.

wall

/wɔːl/

A1
  • noun
  • - a continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land.

gold

/ɡoʊld/

A1
  • noun
  • - a yellow precious metal

laugh

/læf/

A1
  • verb
  • - make the sounds and movements of the face and body that express lively amusement or joy.

cry

/kraɪ/

A1
  • verb
  • - shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow.

stories

/ˈstɔːriz/

A1
  • noun
  • - an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

apologize

/əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/

B2
  • verb
  • - express regret for something that one has done wrong.

years

/jɪərz/

A1
  • noun
  • - the time it takes the earth to travel around the sun

passed

/pæst/

A2
  • verb
  • - go past or move ahead of (someone or something).

memories

/ˈmɛməriz/

B1
  • noun
  • - something remembered from the past; a recollection.

running

/ˈrʌnɪŋ/

A2
  • noun
  • - the activity or sport of running.

races

/ˈreɪsɪz/

A2
  • noun
  • - a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.

places

/ˈpleɪsɪz/

A1
  • noun
  • - a particular position or spot.

verses

/ˈvɜːrsɪz/

B1
  • noun
  • - writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme.

world

/wɜːrld/

A1
  • noun
  • - the earth, together with all of its countries, people, and natural features.

love

/lʌv/

A1
  • noun
  • - an intense feeling of affection.
  • verb
  • - feel deep affection for (someone).

laughter

/ˈlæftər/

B1
  • noun
  • - the action or sound of laughing.

sadness

/ˈsædnəs/

B1
  • noun
  • - the condition of being unhappy.

tears

/tɪərz/

A1
  • noun
  • - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye.

Grammar:

  • My old friend, I recall the times we had hanging on my wall

    ➔ Relative Clause (Reduced)

    ➔ The phrase "hanging on my wall" is a reduced relative clause modifying "the times." The full clause would be "the times *that were* hanging on my wall." Reducing the clause omits the relative pronoun and the auxiliary verb.

  • Cause they laugh and they cry me

    ➔ Unusual Word Order (Object + Verb + Subject)

    ➔ The standard word order would be "they laugh *at* me and they cry *for* me." The object pronoun "me" is placed between the verb and the subject, creating a more poetic and emphatic effect. This inversion emphasizes the impact of the memories on the speaker.

  • Somehow sanctify me

    ➔ Transitive Verb Usage

    ➔ The verb "sanctify" is used as a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. Here, "me" is the direct object. "Sanctify" means to make something holy or pure. The memories are described as having a purifying or ennobling effect on the speaker.

  • There's always somewhere else I had to be

    ➔ Past Perfect Modal (had to be)

    "Had to be" expresses a past obligation or necessity. The use of the past perfect form emphasizes that this obligation existed in the past and is now being reflected upon. It suggests the speaker felt compelled to prioritize other things over spending time with their friend.

  • Cause a few simple verses was the least that I could do

    ➔ Inversion with "the least"

    ➔ The sentence is inverted for emphasis. The more typical order would be "A few simple verses was the least thing that I could do". By placing "the least that I could do" at the end of the sentence, it becomes more prominent and highlights the speaker's feeling that this song is a small gesture.