Whenever I Call You 'Friend' – English Lyrics

• By: Kenny Loggins, Stevie Nicks
• Album: Nightwatch

Lyrics & Translation

“Whenever I Call You 'Friend'” is a beautiful soft rock duet by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks that offers a rich opportunity to learn English through song. Its clear, heartfelt lyrics about deep connection and friendship provide accessible vocabulary and expressions of enduring relationships. The layered harmonies, a tribute to Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, make it a melodically engaging piece, while the story behind its creation—including Stevie Nicks's intense recording sessions with Kenny Loggins—adds a fascinating layer to its history.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - have a particular belief or idea
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - perceive the intended meaning of (words, a language, or a speaker)
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs in the head of a person or animal through which they can see
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important noun - something essential or very important.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
memories /ˈmɛməriz/ B1	noun - something remembered from the past; a recollection.
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very brief period of time
reason /ˈriːzən/ B1	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for (someone)
heavenly /ˈhɛvənli/ B2	adjective - resembling heaven; supremely delightful.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfʊl/ A2	adjective - pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
sight /saɪt/ A2	noun - the ability to see
forever /fərˈɛvər/ A2	adverb - for all future time; eternally
times /taɪmz/ A2	noun - an instance of something happening or being done
lucky /ˈlʌki/ A2	adjective - having good fortune
glowing /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/ B2	adjective - emitting a steady light
bright /braɪt/ B1	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining

Key Grammar Structures

• Whenever I call you friend, I begin to think I understand

  ➔ "Whenever" (Subordinating Conjunction) + Simple Present / Simple Present

  ➔ This sentence uses "whenever" to indicate every time the action of calling someone 'friend' happens, the speaker starts to understand something. It shows a habitual connection between the two actions.

• Anything we are, You and I have always been ever and ever

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous ( "have always been") to express an action that started in the past and continues to the present. "Ever and ever" is used for emphasis

  ➔ The phrase "have always been" emphasizes the enduring nature of their relationship, suggesting it has existed continuously throughout their lives. "Ever and ever" further strengthens this idea.

• I see myself within your eyes, and that's all I need to show me why

  ➔ Complex Sentence (Independent Clause + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause); "show me why" uses an indirect question construction without "that".

  ➔ The sentence combines two independent thoughts using "and". The phrase "show me why" is a shortened form of "show me the reason why", where "that" is omitted (common in spoken and informal English).

• Everything I do always takes me home to you

  ➔ Relative Clause ("Everything I do"); "takes me home to you" - metaphorical use of "home" as a place of comfort and belonging.

  ➔ "Everything I do" acts as the subject of the verb "takes". The use of "home" is figurative, referring to a sense of emotional safety and connection rather than a physical location.

• Now I know my life has given me more than memories

  ➔ Present Perfect ("has given"); "more than" (comparative structure).

  ➔ The present perfect "has given" connects a past action (life giving something) to the present state (the speaker knowing). "More than memories" implies the speaker has gained something deeper and more significant from life.

• In every moment there's a reason to carry on

  ➔ Existential "there's" (there is); "to carry on" (phrasal verb - to continue)

  ➔ "There's" introduces the existence of something (a reason). "To carry on" is a common phrasal verb meaning to continue despite difficulties or challenges.

• I know forever we'll be doin' it right

  ➔ Future Simple with "will" (shortened to "'ll"); "doin'" (informal contraction of "doing"). Adverb "right" to describe manner.

  ➔ This expresses a strong belief or conviction about the future. "Doin' it right" suggests that they will continue to act in a way that is correct, appropriate, and fulfilling for them.