ADD: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)

Subject: "Absent friends" as covered by The Fureys
From:
Date: 15 Feb 99 - 09:24 AM

Me again! This song was apparently written by a Dutchman and 'given' to The Fureys. I think its a beautiful song and I would very much love to get the words to it. Hope someone can help me! Love Shannon

Subject: RE: Absent friends as covered by The Fureys
From:
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 10:54 AM

I think you'll find it on their latest album

Subject: RE: Absent friends as covered by The Fureys
From: BillyJ
Date: 17 Feb 99 - 01:04 PM

Have you a name for their latest album i like their songs as they are mostly story songs and you dont need to be a good singer.

Billy J Ireland

Subject: RE: Absent friends as covered by The Fureys
From:
Date: 22 Feb 99 - 11:28 AM

I think it's called "The Furey's - 21 years on" or something very similiar.

Subject: Lyr Add: ABSENT FRIENDS (Keith Hancock)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 07:42 AM

According to this page, ABSENT FRIENDS was written by Keith Hancock. It was sung by the Fureys on their 21st anniversary tour in 1999. They have an album called "21 Years On," but I have been unable to find a track list for this album.

Vin Garbutt also sings ABSENT FRIENDS on his album "When the Tide Turns Again."

Lyrics and chords below are copied from http://www.geocities.com/folkalpointweekly01/050124.htm

(Sorry, the chords don't line up with the lyrics, but that's the way I found them.)

ABSENT FRIENDS
(Keith Hancock)

G D Em Bm
Time heals wounds, they say. Time takes the pain away.

C G C D
I wonder why it never happens for me.

G D Em Bm
It's years since you went away but I miss you night and day.

C G D G
Why you had to go is a mystery to me.

What seemed important then becomes trivial when
Fate deals the card that forces your hand.
All the places we'd been, all the things we had seen,
No more in the future; it just isn't planned.

It's all very strange, but when you went, I changed.
It just seemed to happen with the passing of each day.
I don't understand. Is it part of a plan?
Does one person grow when another fades away?

Small things you'd do weave pictures of you.
They're printed for life on the back of my mind.
I was always so sure. Your life was so pure.
To the faults and to bad times a loved one stays blind.

I always found that when you were around,
You helped me with worries and eased all my fears.
You always had time for problems of mine,
A shoulder to cry on, a listening ear.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Michael
Date: 09 Jul 08 - 10:39 AM

a great song, well done on posting the lyrics Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 05:47 AM

This song is very dear to my heart
The way the Fureys sing it is wonderful because it makes me remember my Dad when he used to sing this song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Siobhan
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 05:49 AM

It is number 12 on the Furey's Album "21 Years On"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:10 AM

THIS SONG REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE AND THE WAY I THINK OF THINGS I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GIVE ME THE CODES FOR GUITAR IN THE CODE OF C

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 12:41 PM

In the key of C the above mentioned chords will be:

G=C
D=G
Em=Am
Bm=Em
C=F

Kees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,JOhn Evans
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 12:47 PM

It was written by Keith Hancock and is often performed by the great Vin Garbutt,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Sam
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 12:11 PM

It was definitely written by Keith Hancock and it was most certainly not 'given' to the Fureys.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:08 PM

I 'collected' this from Vin Garbutt - As he does it , Jim's First Verse is a chorus , and the order is the reverse of the order posted by Jim !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 06:10 PM

I've got this somewhere on a cassette(!) of Keith Hancock, with backing vocals by Christine Collister.

With so many people singing to a guitar accompaniment, I enjoyed Keith's performance accompanying himself on his melodeon.

Lhiats,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 06:13 PM

I have seen Keith do it Live ! An excellent performance !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 06:22 PM

Absolutely no doubt a Keith Hancock song.
I believe it was written in memory of his younger brother.
Particularly moving when performed by Keith.
Have'nt seen or heared of him for many years so assume he is no longer gigging.

CdM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Sam
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 12:44 PM

It was in memory of his older brother. He's done the occasional appearance in recent years but no full time gigging.

Subject: ADD: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Cambuslang
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 05:48 PM

On the 2nd of January 1971 66 fans went to a game of football and never returned home.

The time has come to say goodnight,for every road must end,
to the ones who care and their always there, our very special friends,
Lets say goodnight to those we love, and maybe shed a tear,
but before we close lets think of those, we love who cant be here.

Let's raise a glass to absent friends,
For every road must end,
You'll always be there in our hearts,
Our special absent friends.

And when it's time for us to go,
And our long journey ends,
We'll never be alone you see,
We'll be with absent friends.

So, Let's raise a glass to absent friends,
For every road must end,
You'll always be there in our hearts,
Our special absent friends.

So, Let's raise a glass to absent friends,
For every road must end,
You'll always be there in our hearts,
Our special absent friends.

So, Let's raise a glass to absent friends,
For every road must end,
You'll always be there in our hearts,
Our special absent friends.

Our special absent friends.

Gone But never Forgotten

Subject: RE: ADD: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 09:17 AM

Absent Friends
The Fureys & Davey Arthur.
Time heals wounds, they say. Time takes the pain away.
I wonder why it never happens for me.
It's years since you went away but I miss you night and day.
Why you had to go is a mystery to me.
What seemed important then becomes trivial when
Fate deals the card that forces your hand.
All the places we'd been, all the things we had seen,
No more in the future; it just isn't planned.
It's all very strange, but when you went, I changed.
It just seemed to happen with the passing of each day.
I don't understand. Is it part of a plan?
Does one person grow when another fades away?
Small things you'd do weave pictures of you.
They're printed for life on the back of my mind.
I was always so sure. Your life was so pure.
To the faults and to bad times a loved one stays blind.
I always found that when you were around,
You helped me with worries and eased all my fears.
You always had time for problems of mine,
A shoulder to cry on, a listening ear.

Subject: RE: ADD: Absent Friends (from The Fureys)
From: Howard Jones
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 10:00 AM

Guest, as the previous posts have made clear this song is by Keith Hancock and he should be credited rather than the Fureys, who are not the only ones to have covered it.

Keith now lives in Vietnam. A few days ago he suffered a heart attack and needs surgery. Fortunately a fundraising effort by his friends seems to have raised enough to pay for this. The fundraiser has now closed, however if any of his friends and admirers wish to help towards his recovery then you can find more information here:

Fundrazr - Keith Hancock needs your help