You've Got a Friend – English Lyrics

• By: James Taylor, Carole King
• Album: Tapestry, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartwarming lyrics and gentle melodies of "You've Got a Friend," a classic that beautifully articulates the essence of true companionship. Learning this song can introduce you to common English phrases for expressing empathy and solidarity, and its simple, heartfelt language makes it an excellent piece for understanding natural conversational rhythms and emotional expression in English. Discover how music can convey profound comfort and connection, making this song a special guide to both language and emotion.

[English]

- Like, I said, this is a tune that Carole wrote

and I recorded it on my most recent album

'cause I really like it.

And since a lot of other people seem to like it too,

they pulled it for a single, for whatever that's worth.

Let's see.

(gentle folk music)

(audience applauds)

♪ When you're down and troubled ♪

♪ And you need some love and care ♪

♪ And nothing, whoa, nothing is goin' right ♪

♪ Close your eyes and think of me ♪

♪ And soon I will be there ♪

♪ To brighten up, whoa, even your darkest night ♪

♪ You just call out my name ♪

♪ And you know wherever I am ♪

♪ I'll come runnin' to see you again ♪

♪ Winter, spring, summer or fall ♪

♪ All you've got to do is call ♪

♪ And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah now ♪

♪ You've got a friend ♪

♪ If the sky above you ♪

♪ Should grow dark and full of clouds ♪

♪ And that old north wind should begin to blow ♪

♪ Keep your head together ♪

♪ And call my name out loud now, baby ♪

♪ Soon I'll be knocking upon your door ♪

♪ You just call out my name ♪

♪ And you know wherever I am ♪

♪ I'll come runnin' to see you again ♪

♪ Winter, spring, summer or fall ♪

♪ Now all you've got to do is call on me ♪

♪ And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Tell me, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend ♪

♪ When people can be so cold ♪

♪ They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you ♪

♪ They'll take your soul if you let them ♪

♪ But don't you let them ♪

♪ You just call out my name ♪

♪ And you know wherever I am ♪

♪ I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ To see you again ♪

♪ Winter, spring, summer or fall ♪

♪ Now all you've got to do is call ♪

♪ And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah now ♪

♪ You've got a friend ♪

♪ You've got a friend ♪

♪ Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend ♪

♪ Ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know ♪

♪ Ain't it good to know ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ You've got a friend ♪

(audience applauds)

Yeah.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for (someone)
care /kɛər/ A2	noun - the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something verb - feel concern or interest; attach importance to something.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs used for seeing
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - have a particular belief or idea
brighten /ˈbraɪtən/ B2	verb - make or become brighter
darkest /ˈdɑːrkɪst/ B1	adjective - with little or no light
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - utter a loud cry or shout
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or words by which someone or something is known
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - move at a speed faster than a walk
winter /ˈwɪntər/ A1	noun - the coldest season of the year
spring /sprɪŋ/ A1	noun - the season after winter and before summer
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A1	noun - the warmest season of the year
fall /fɔːl/ A1	noun - the season after summer and before winter
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.
clouds /klaʊdz/ A2	noun - visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - the perceptible natural movement of the air
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - cause physical pain or injury to
desert /dɪˈzɜːrt/ B2	verb - abandon (someone) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal

Key Grammar Structures

• When you're down and troubled

  ➔ Adjective clause with "When"

  ➔ This line uses "when" to introduce a condition. "When you're down and troubled" sets up a situation where the following advice applies.

• And you need some love and care

  ➔ Use of "some" with uncountable nouns.

  ➔ "Love" and "care" are uncountable nouns in English, so we use "some" to indicate an unspecified quantity.

• Close your eyes and think of me

  ➔ Imperative sentences connected by "and".

  ➔ Two instructions are given directly: "Close your eyes" and "think of me". The word "and" connects them, implying they should be done in sequence.

• And soon I will be there

  ➔ Future tense with "will".

  ➔ "Will be" expresses a future action or state. It indicates a promise or a prediction.

• You just call out my name

  ➔ Imperative with "just" for emphasis.

  ➔ "Just" is used here to soften the command while still making it clear and direct. It implies simplicity - all you need to do is call.

• And you know wherever I am

  ➔ Noun clause introduced by "wherever".

  ➔ "Wherever I am" acts as the object of the verb "know". "Wherever" means "no matter where".

• I'll come runnin' to see you again

  ➔ Future tense with "I'll" (I will) and present participle "runnin'" as an adjective. Informal pronunciation of running.

  ➔ "I'll come runnin'" describes the manner of coming. "Runnin'" is a colloquial shortening of "running" acting as an adjective modifying the verb "come".

• All you've got to do is call

  ➔ "All you've got to do is" structure (to express that something is easy)

  ➔ This structure emphasizes the simplicity and ease of the action. It means the only thing necessary is to call.

• Tell me, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend

  ➔ Question tag with "ain't" (informal contraction of "isn't") and "it" as a dummy subject.

  ➔ "Ain't it good" is an informal way of saying "Isn't it good". "It" is a dummy subject here, referring to the general feeling of having a friend. The question tag invites agreement from the listener.