Thank You for Being a Friend – English Lyrics

• By: Andrew Gold

Lyrics & Translation

Andrew Gold's "Thank You for Being a Friend" offers a wonderful opportunity to learn English through its clear, heartfelt lyrics and universally relatable theme of friendship. Its upbeat melody and simple, direct language make it easy to follow along, grasp common expressions, and understand how to express gratitude and loyalty in English, especially as it celebrates enduring bonds that stand the test of time and has become a cultural touchstone.

[English]

Thank you for being a friend

Traveled down a road and back again

Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party

Invited everyone you knew

You would see the biggest gift would be from me

And the card attached would say

Thank you for being a friend

Thank you for being a friend

Thank you for being a friend

Thank you for being a friend

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
thank ˈθæŋk A2	verb - to express gratitude to someone
friend ˈfrɛŋ(d) A1	noun - a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
traveled ˈtræv(ə)ld B1	verb - past tense of travel; moved from one place to another
road roʊd A2	noun - a paved way for travelling on land
heart hɑːrt A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the centre of emotion
true truː A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality; sincere
pal pæl A2	noun - an informal term for a close friend
confidant ˈkɒn.fɪ.dænt C1	noun - a person with whom one shares private matters or secrets
threw θruː B1	verb - past tense of throw; propelled something through the air
party ˈpɑːr.ti A2	noun - a social gathering for celebration
invited ɪnˈvaɪ.tɪd B1	verb - past tense of invite; asked someone to come
everyone ˈev.ri.wʌn A2	pronoun - all people
knew njuː B1	verb - past tense of know; had knowledge of
see siː A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes; to understand
biggest ˈbɪɡ.ɪst B1	adjective - largest in size or importance
gift ɡɪft A2	noun - something given voluntarily without payment
card kɑːrd A2	noun - a piece of thick paper, often with a message on it
attached əˈtætʃt B2	adjective - fastened or connected to something else
say seɪ A1	verb - to utter words; to express in speech

Key Grammar Structures

• Thank you for being a friend

  ➔ Gerund after a preposition (for + gerund)

  ➔ The word "being" is a gerund that follows the preposition "for" to express the reason for the thanks.

• Your heart is true

  ➔ Simple present tense with linking verb "is"

  ➔ "is" links the subject "heart" with the adjective "true", forming a present‑simple statement of fact.

• you're a pal and a confidant

  ➔ Contraction of "you are" + simple present

  ➔ "you're" is the contracted form of "you are"; the sentence states a present fact using the simple present.

• And if you threw a party

  ➔ Second conditional (past simple in if‑clause for unreal present)

  ➔ The verb "threw" is in the past simple to form a second‑conditional meaning a hypothetical party in the present.

• Invited everyone you knew

  ➔ Past simple verb used in a reduced clause (ellipsis of "you" as subject)

  ➔ "Invited" is a past‑simple verb, and the subject "you" is understood from the previous line, forming a reduced clause.

• You would see the biggest gift would be from me

  ➔ Modal verb "would" for hypothetical future; also a nested "would be" clause

  ➔ The first "would" marks a hypothetical situation; the second "would be" forms a complement clause describing the gift.

• And the card attached would say

  ➔ Past participle used as adjective ("attached") + modal "would" + simple future meaning

  ➔ "attached" is a past participle describing "card"; "would say" uses the modal "would" to indicate what the card is expected to say.

• Thank you for being a friend

  ➔ Repeated use of gerund after preposition for emphasis

  ➔ The phrase "for being a friend" appears twice; each "being" is a gerund that follows "for" to keep the gratitude focused on the act of friendship.