Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)

Subject: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,The Man from UNCOOL
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 11:44 AM

Except for his most popular songs, JT’s lyrics don’t seem to be easily findable anywhere (his own sites don’t offer such detail;  JT is now retired, so someone else must maintain them).

I can recall only portions of this one:

[?Jim], the undertaker, he’s something of a Quaker,
but he’s a friend;  yes, he’s a friend.
[2 lines I forget]
He’s the kind of man you can rely on
[forgotten line]
He’s got this coat of elm he keeps asking me to try on
He’s my friend, yes, he’s my friend, my friend,
He’s my friend, yes, he’s my friend.

Another verse begins:
[forgotten name] the vicar’s got a new line in car-stickers
sayin’ Jesus Christ is my friend.

Thanks for any help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 05:27 PM

I can remember:-

"Down at the Abbey National
They're all so calm and rational
Cos they're my friends...

I've got some JT vinyl but not sure if this is on there or not.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 06:45 PM

I'm a lucky feller, ask e why and I'll tell yer
I've got friends, I've got friends
I've got a wife, a house, a car, and I thank my lucky stars,
I've …………..
And my life insurance policy's OK.
My bank manager says I've only got to say.
And I can always have another month to pay,
'Caus he's my friend, he's my friend.

Down at the Abbey National they're so functional, so rational,
They're my ……..
They pay such kind attention that I scarcely need to mention
They're my ……..

And when the cost of living's causing me some pain,
And my repayments feel lime money down the drain,
Well. they'll always come and see me and explain
That they're ……..

Chorus
Oh yes it's wonderful, I'm happy today
Yes it's wonderful, I'm feeling OK.
Life can be so grand, with an IOU of friendship in your hand.


My old pal the vicar's got a new line in car stickers
Saying he's …..
He says the only thing to ease us is to try and think of Jesus,
As a .....

And I know from what he's been telling me,
He's not the sort of guy to be selling me
Down the road that led poor Jesus to Gethsemane
With his …….


Jim the undertaker, he's always been a Quaker,
He's .......
He's ace at his professison, he does a lovely procession,
And he's ...

He's the sort of guy you can rely on,
He's even got his eye on
A nice piece of of elm he's asking me to try on,
Cause .....

Chorus

When I'm far away from home, there's no need to feel alone,
Cause I've got friends, back home, I've got friends.
When I'm in some foreign town there's no need to feel down,
Cause .....

And when I telephone the wife to say "Hello"
And they tell me she's just gone out with Joe,
Well, I've no need to worry 'caus I know,
That he's my friend .....

I'm going home today, everything will be OK,
Cause ....
Old spotty-dog will meet me, he'll wag his tail and greet me.
Like ...

And if there's nobody else at home.
Well I won't need to moan.
I'll just sit out in the garden with the gnome,
Cause he's my friend, yes, my very good freind.
He's my friend, he's my friend.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,The Man from UNCOOL
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 09:04 PM

Thanks very much, Guest!
  I don't recall the tune of the chorus, but it may come back to me while practising that many verses.
  And I think, Acorn4, that this one may not have made it onto [m]any records.  I have a shortened version on cassette (somewhere buried), prob. taped off the 1970s Radio 2 folk programme, thus curtailed to get more songs into its 30 mins.
  If Guest also has the lyrics for "The Voice of the People" (if not its title, the one beginning "In 1939, Adolf Hitler [the swine]… "), that would save me starting another thread!!
  Cheers, both.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jan 19 - 08:37 PM

discogs.com says I’VE GOT FRIENDS appears on Jeremy Taylor’s album “Live at the Young Vic” (1978).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 04:10 AM

That’s correct. At the time he recorded it, Jeremy had some sort of hand problem and had to perform with an “accomplice” on guitar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Aug 20 - 07:30 PM

Needs some cleanup - Paul Clarke sings this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Got Friends (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 04 Aug 20 - 07:01 AM

Yes, probably needs cleaning up but the words "Guest" above quotes are more or less the same as on the "....young Vic" recording.

I don't think you can take a live recording as definitive though and Jeremy was fond of changing lyrics as he went along - there are at least two versions of the second verse of "Jobsworth".