Folk Rock

The song was written by Carole King and first released on her famous 1971 album Tapestry. James Taylor also released it on his 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. He also released  as a single, backed with “You Can Close Your Eyes.” King says that this was one of those songs that practically wrote itself.  It was inspired as a response to the line in Taylor’s song “Fire and Rain,” that states “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend.” King’s album was recorded around the same time as Taylor’s. They both have King, Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, and Joni Mitchell playing on them.

Taylor’s single of “You’ve Got a Friend” rose to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It was #2 in Canada, #4 in the U.K., and #14 in The Netherlands. The song won Taylor a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and King an award for Song of the Year. There have been numerous covers, including ones by Dusty Springfield, Michael Jackson, Anny Murray, and Donny Hathaway, just to mention a few.

Here are the lyrics to “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor:

When you’re down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, oh, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And, you know, wherever I am
I’ll come running (oh yeah, baby)
To see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I’ll be there, (yeah yeah yeah)
You’ve got a friend

If the sky above you
Should turn 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
Soon I’ll be knocking upon your door

You just call out my name
And, you know, wherever I am
I’ll come running (Oh, yes I will)
To see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I’ll be there, yeah yeah, yeah

Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
People can be so cold?
They’ll hurt you and desert you
Well, they’ll take your soul if you let them
Oh, yeah, but don’t you let them

You just call out my name
And, you know, wherever I am
I’ll come running
To see you again
(Oh baby don’t you know ’bout)
Winter, spring, summer or fall
(Hey now) All you got to do is call
Lord I’ll be there, yes I will
You’ve got a friend
You’ve got a friend, yeah
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend
Oh yeah, yeah
You’ve got a friend

For another song by James Taylor: “Fire and Rain.”

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor.