That's What Friends Are For – English Lyrics

• By: Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder
• Album: Love Songs

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and 'That's What Friends Are For' is a perfect starting point. The song's clear and repetitive chorus makes it easy to follow along and learn key vocabulary about friendship and support. Its simple, yet profound, message is universally understood, allowing you to connect with the emotions of the song while practicing your English. The beautiful harmonies and distinct voices of the four music legends also make it a joy to listen to again and again.

[English]

(gentle, soulful music)

♪ And I never thought I'd feel this way ♪

♪ And as far as I'm concerned ♪

♪ I'm glad I got the chance to say ♪

♪ That I do believe, I love you ♪

♪ And if I should ever go away ♪

♪ Well, then close your eyes and try ♪

♪ To feel the way we do today ♪

♪ And then if you can remember ♪

♪ Keep smiling, keep shining ♪

♪ Knowing you can always count on me, for sure ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

♪ For good times and bad times ♪

♪ I'll be on your side forever more ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

(gentle, soulful music continues)

♪ Well, you came in loving me ♪

♪ And now there's so much more I see ♪

♪ And so by the way ♪

♪ I thank you ♪

♪ Oh, and then for the times when we're apart ♪

♪ Well, then close your eyes and know ♪

♪ The words are coming from my heart ♪

♪ And then if you can remember, oh ♪

♪ Keep smiling and keep shining ♪

♪ Knowing you can always count on me, for sure ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

♪ In good times and bad times ♪

♪ I'll be on your side forever more ♪

♪ Oh, that's what friends are for ♪

♪ Keep smiling, keep shining ♪

♪ Knowing you can always count on me, for sure ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

♪ For good times and bad times ♪

♪ I'll be on your side forever more ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

♪ Keep smiling, keep shining ♪

♪ Knowing you can always count on me, for sure ♪

♪ Cause I tell you, that's what friends are for ♪

♪ Whoa, good times and the bad times ♪

♪ I'll be on your side forever more ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

- That's what friends are for, right? Yeah.

(gentle, soulful music continues)

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

♪ Keep smiling, keep shining ♪

♪ On me, for sure ♪

♪ Shine on me, for sure ♪

♪ That's what friends are for ♪

♪ Keep smiling, keep shining ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friends /frɛndz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for (someone) noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs that detect light
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - to form one's features into a pleased expression noun - a pleased facial expression
times /taɪmz/ A1	noun - occasions
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - not good; of poor quality or low standard
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something.
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - a possibility of something happening
apart /əˈpɑːrt/ B1	adverb - separated by a distance
sure /ʃʊr/ B1	adjective - confident or certain of something
count /kaʊnt/ B1	verb - rely on someone
shining /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ B2	adjective - emitting or reflecting light
forever /fərˈevər/ B2	adverb - for all future time

Key Grammar Structures

• And I never thought I'd feel this way

  ➔ Conditional sentences (Type 3 implied) / Contractions

  ➔ Implies 'If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have thought I'd feel this way.' 'I'd' is a contraction of 'I would'. Type 3 conditional refers to a hypothetical situation in the past.

• As far as I'm concerned

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression / Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "As far as I'm concerned" means 'in my opinion' or 'from my point of view.' It is a common idiomatic expression using a prepositional phrase.

• I'm glad I got the chance to say

  ➔ Past Simple / Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "I got the chance" is Past Simple tense. "To say" is an infinitive of purpose, explaining *why* the speaker got the chance.

• And if I should ever go away

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1 variant with 'should')

  ➔ Using 'should' in the 'if' clause expresses a slightly more formal or less likely condition. It emphasizes the hypothetical nature of going away.

• To feel the way we do today

  ➔ Infinitive of Manner / Relative Clause (implied)

  ➔ "To feel" describes *how* to close your eyes. There's an implied relative clause: "the way *that* we feel today."

• Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

  ➔ Present Participle Clause of Reason / Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "Knowing..." introduces the reason *why* you should keep smiling. "Count on" is a phrasal verb meaning 'rely on'.

• That's what friends are for

  ➔ Cleft Sentence / Subject-Complement

  ➔ A cleft sentence emphasizes a particular piece of information. "That's what friends are for" highlights the *purpose* of friends. 'Friends' is the subject and 'what friends are for' is a noun clause acting as the subject complement.

• I'll be on your side forever more

  ➔ Future Simple / Adverbial Phrase of Time

  ➔ "I'll be" is the Future Simple tense, indicating a future action or state. "Forever more" is an adverbial phrase specifying the duration of the action.