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Being Woody Guthrie

2 May 2009, 05:35

He Was a Friend of Mine
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For articles with similar titles, see Friend of Mine (disambiguation).
He Was a Friend of Mine is a traditional folk song in which the singer laments the death of a friend.

It has been recorded by Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Dave Van Ronk, Bobby Bare, Mercury Rev, The Mitchell Trio, Willie Nelson, Nanci Griffith and Cat Power. The version recorded by Willie Nelson was used in the film Brokeback Mountain and is credited to Dylan, who arranged an early version of the tune in 1962 (available on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991). [1]

Bobby Bare recorded the song in 1964 in memory of air crash victim Jim Reeves. That same year, Petula Clark released a French version of the song under the title "Toi qui m’as fait pleurer", with a Bobby Bare credit as writer.

In the Byrds’ version, John F. Kennedy was the friend whose death was lamented. The melody is changed considerably and Roger McGuinn takes a songwriter’s credit.

The Grateful Dead is commonly listed as performing this song from 1966 through 1969. While listed in setlists as "He Was A Friend Of Mine", they actually played a portion of "Just A Hand To Hold", written by Mark Spoelstra.

Dave Van Ronk sang the song at the memorial concert for Phil Ochs in New York City’s Madison Square Garden Felt Forum in May 1976, after Ochs’ suicide.

The song was featured in an episode of the reality television series Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising when the openly gay pop duo Nemesis recorded it for the album Rise Up. This version was produced by Barry Manilow and released June 26, 2007.

The earliest known version of this song was under the title "Shorty George" (Roud 10055)[2]

The English band The Bishops covered it on their 2009 album "For now".

The Canadian band The Imaginaries covered it on their 2008 album "Another Side Of The Imaginaries". The title of the album is also a reference to the 1964 Bob Dylan album.

He Was A Friend Of Mine
He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’
’Cause he was a friend of mine

He died on the road
He died on the road
He never had enough money
To pay his room or board
And he was a friend of mine

I stole away and cried
I stole away and cried
’Cause I never had too much money
And I never been quite satisfied
And he was a friend of mine

He never done no wrong
He never done no wrong
A thousand miles from home
And he never harmed no one
And he was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I hear his name
Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’
’Cause he was a friend of mine.

Copyright ©1962; renewed 1990 MCA