Lyr Add: Here's to My Friend

Subject: Here's To My Friend
From: Áine
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 02:44 AM

Here's to my friend, who listened so late,
And waited for loathing of self to abate,
Who said, 'You are who you are now, that's what counts',
And for the past, gave not an ounce.

For one who was there when I needed a voice,
To tell me that there was more than one choice,
Who could see the woman I felt deep inside,
The one that I kept veiled, and thought I could hide.

But into the light my friend drew her out,
Told me to let her shout what her life was about,
The joy of surviving, and the life she had borne,
No more to be sad, lonely, forlorn.

That friend turned a key I thought rusted and lost,
Drowned in the sea of despair and disgust,
It opened a gate that had been embossed
With the tarnish of time, cancelled and crossed.

And now, with a word, a nod and a grin,
A life put on hold is set to begin,
That was then, this is now, a flicker of light,
Moved wings to unfold and launch into flight.

Here's to my friend, you know who you are,
The face in the ether, the pub or the bar,
Wherever I found you, 'tis no reason or rhyme,
'Tis that I found you, at the right time.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 03:07 AM

Oh!

(That's my song, Áine! You been reading my diary??)

Thank you, Áine, and thank you, friend...

Noreen

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Mudlark
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 04:09 AM

Wonderful lyrics, Aine....thanks for posting...

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Morticia
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 06:41 AM

That's lovely,Aine....here's hoping everyone in need finds at least one good friend.I have many, a lot of them here, and I never cease to be amazed and grateful for it.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 10:31 AM

Absolutely beautiful, darlin'....thanks for sharing!!

luvyamehitabel

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Brendy
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 10:34 AM

Nice one, Áine.

B.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: SharonA
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 10:39 AM

Beautiful! Is this a song, as well as a poem? If so, what's the tune?

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 11:58 AM

It's surely a song for it springs from the heart, that place where life's yearning to make a new start. I hear harps when I read it, Aine; beautiful song.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 12:37 PM

What Slim just said.........

Beautful Aine..........

Spaw-saggyass tortoise friend

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 12:57 PM

Well now... I am still wiping away sweet tears... And now you are the person the 'song' is written to... Thank You.ttr

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 05:26 PM

Thank you posting this. That's a good song Áine.

That friend turned a key I thought rusted and lost,
Drowned in the sea of despair and disgust,
It opened a gate that had been embossed
With the tarnish of time, cancelled and crossed.

And now, with a word, a nod and a grin,
A life put on hold is set to begin,
That was then, this is now, a flicker of light,
Moved wings to unfold and launch into flight.

It's strange - I'd just been looking up 0ne of Thomas Moore's songs in another thread. And Thomas Moore was said top "have a genius for friendship". And heee is one of my favourite songs of his, and it's about friendship, and I've set to play as I write this.

And the tune seems to fit well with your words too, though I hadn't thought that until just now, when I looked at them again.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 05:29 PM

And here is the link to that Thomas Moore song, "Farewell! But Whenever You Welcome the Hour" which somehow went missing in that last post of mine.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Áine
Date: 18 Aug 01 - 09:46 PM

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts.

To tell the truth, I don't know whether I wrote this as a poem or a song. It was one of those times when you sit down and you just write until you come to the end.

Although the initial words were inspired by a late night conversation with a special person, the poem/song honestly expresses how I feel about each of the people on the Mudcat who have touched my life in the years I have been here. I see and hear it as a long distance embrace for my friends far away. Each of you is very special and very dear to me.

Le grá is meas is mise Áine
(With love and respect, Áine)

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 12:07 PM

Love the poem, but the proof reader still surfaces. In the first verse:

Who said, 'You are who (are you) now, that's what counts',

Probably:

Who said, 'You are who (you are) now, that's what counts'

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Amos
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 12:07 PM

Dearest TGG,

Let me just add, after I stop sniffing here, that this is one of those magical songs which reads perfectly beautifully in the normal way and ALSO when held up to a mirror! Consider it reflected back on you, who have always been the best of friends to singers, writers, hopers, dreamers, and other wild-eyed children everywhere.

A

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 01:10 PM

Lovely, Aine. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 03:37 PM

Your words struck a chord in my heart. Sometimes it does take a special someone to spur us onward.The sadness that I'm feeling today comes from the realization that it's time to let my special someone go and find my way on my own. I know that the imprints left on my heart will remain and I will alway be grateful for the changes that my life is taking.

Thank you Aine for putting my feelings into words.

LL

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Amos
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 11:49 PM

Looks like you hit one over the fence here, Red!! Way ta go!!

A.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Áine
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 10:48 PM

Just refreshing this so my friend(s) will know how much I love them . . .

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 12:55 AM

Still so beautiful, darlin'. Have you ever found a tune for it? Sending it right back at you,

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Night Owl
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 01:26 AM

that's beautiful Aine...THANKS for posting it!!!

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: kendall
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 09:04 AM

I dont know how I missed this the first time around, but, I'm glad it was refreshed. Beautiful!

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: MMario
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 09:25 AM

I don't know how I missed this the first time around - but it is incredible. hugs to Áine

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Trevor
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 11:07 AM

WOW!

And I think that we all have that friend, somewhere in a space inside our heads. Might be difficult to find sometimes, sometimes the racket from everything else drowns them out, we may have to wait a while, but we'll hear these words eventually.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Trevor
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 11:10 AM

And I clicked the button before saying thanks to Aine. I've experienced the feeling but never seen it articulated it in such a beautiful way.

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: nutty
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 01:45 PM

I had similar thoughts ....although not quite so eloquent as Aine .... when I wrote this

FRIENDS LIKE YOU

I don't care where I lay my head
Be it floor or feather bed
As long as there are friends around like you
I don't care what I have to eat
Or what I wear upon my feet
As long as there are friends around like you

CHORUS
As long as I can sing my song
As long as you will sing along
And share in almost eveything I do
I may not be a millionaire
But I'll be rich beyond compare
As long as there are friends around like you

I don't care if my hair turns grey
Or if the family comes to stay
As long as there are friends around like you
I don't care if the kids get cross
Or if I argue with my boss
As long as there are friends around like you

As long as I can sing my song
As long as you will sing along
And share in almost everything I do
I may not be a millionaire
But I'll be rich beyond compare
As long as there are friends around like you

When I'm growing old and frail
My spirit it will never fail
As long as there are friends around like you

And when these earthly days are done
The memories will linger on
As long as there are friends around like you

For then I know you'll sing my song
For then I know you'll sing along
And talk of all the things we used to do
I may not be a millionaire
But I'll be rich beyond compare
As long as there are friends around like you

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Áine
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 02:42 PM

Dear nutty,

Your song is beautiful and eloquent indeed. I'd be honored if you'd permit me to put it in the Mudcat Songbook.

And big hugs and thanks to everyone who has enjoyed reading my mental wandering . . . you are all very special to me.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: nutty
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 04:20 PM

Thank-you Aine .....I'd be very happy if it went in the song book

Subject: RE: Here's To My Friend
From: Áine
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 06:01 PM

There you go, nutty -- Friends Like You is now in The Mudcat Songbook.

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful song with all of us.

-- Áine