The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
Is a word we use everyday
Most the time we use it in the wrong way
Now you can look the word up, again and again
But the dictionary doesn't know the meaning of friends
And if you ask me, you know, I couldn't be much help
Because a friend's somebody you judge for yourself
Some are okay, and they treat you real cool
And some mistake your kindness for being a fool
We like to be with some, because they're funny
Others come around when they need some money
Some you grew up with, around the way
And you're still real close to this very day
Homeboys through the Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall
And then there's some we wish we never knew at all
And this list goes on, again and again
But these are the people that we call friends
When we first went out together, we barely knew each other
We had no intentions on becoming lovers
But in no time at all, you became my girl
Me and you, one on one, against the world
Talking on the telephone for hours at a time
Or else I was at your house, or you was at mine
And then came the arguments and all kinds of problems
Besides making love, we had nothing in common
It could've lasted longer 'cause it started out strong
But I guess we went about the whole thing wrong
'Cause out of nowhere it just came to an end
Because we became lovers before we were friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
You say you and your girlfriend were so tight
You took her out with you and your guy one night
She even had a set of keys to your home
And you shared mostly everything you owned
But as she shook your hand, she stole your man
And it was done so sweet, it had to be a plan
Couldn't trust her with cheese, let alone your keys
With friends like that you don't need enemies
You wonder how long it was all going on
And you're still not sure if you're glad he's gone
You say, "Well, if she took him, he was never mine"
But deep inside you know that's just another lie
And now you're kinda cold toward people you meet
'Cause of something that was done to you by some creep
But nevertheless, I'll say it again
That these are the people that we call friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
Is a word we use everyday
Most the time we use it in the wrong way
Now you can look the word up, again and again
But the dictionary doesn't know the meaning of friends
And if you ask me, you know, I couldn't be much help
Because a friend's somebody you judge for yourself
Some are okay, and they treat you real cool
And some mistake your kindness for being a fool
We like to be with some, because they're funny
Others come around when they need some money
Some you grew up with, around the way
And you're still real close to this very day
Homeboys through the Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall
And then there's some we wish we never knew at all
And this list goes on, again and again
But these are the people that we call friends
When we first went out together, we barely knew each other
We had no intentions on becoming lovers
But in no time at all, you became my girl
Me and you, one on one, against the world
Talking on the telephone for hours at a time
Or else I was at your house, or you was at mine
And then came the arguments and all kinds of problems
Besides making love, we had nothing in common
It could've lasted longer 'cause it started out strong
But I guess we went about the whole thing wrong
'Cause out of nowhere it just came to an end
Because we became lovers before we were friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
You say you and your girlfriend were so tight
You took her out with you and your guy one night
She even had a set of keys to your home
And you shared mostly everything you owned
But as she shook your hand, she stole your man
And it was done so sweet, it had to be a plan
Couldn't trust her with cheese, let alone your keys
With friends like that you don't need enemies
You wonder how long it was all going on
And you're still not sure if you're glad he's gone
You say, "Well, if she took him, he was never mine"
But deep inside you know that's just another lie
And now you're kinda cold toward people you meet
'Cause of something that was done to you by some creep
But nevertheless, I'll say it again
That these are the people that we call friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let's be
Friends
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Friends Lyrics as written by Lawrence Smith Jalil Hutchins
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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No comments? Not surprising. I love this song.! I think it's about wanting to trust people, but also knowing that being naive can be problematic. Also, the first part of the verse talks about the different kinds of friends that we have. And it's completely accurate. The second part of the verse speaks about becoming friends with someone first before lovers, because that's how you get to really know them. The last verse is a story about a man and his woman and how he let her get close, a little too close, to his friends and he lost her to his best friend. And the thing with that is that now he may never trust another girl or another friend. Kinda sad actually.
My favorite line is probably: "Couldn't trust her with cheese, let alone your keys, with friends like that you don't need enemies."