YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND

This past week I was helping my music major college aged daughter study for a quiz. Now let me set the record straight….No, I am not a helicopter mother!

The quiz involves listening to a snippet, starting anywhere from about 10 sec – 3 minutes, of a song.

The students need to write the exact title of the song, artist, genre of music and the year it was written (within a 5 yr window.)

 

Therefore, as my daughter studies for the quiz by repeatedly listening to the songs and studying the corresponding information, I’ve had the honor of quizzing her by playing the snippets of the songs on the computer, in random order, so she can practice providing the appropriate information.  Imagine doing that for 34+ songs at a time!  I am so thankful I am not the one memorizing all that information; I will gladly help her study any day!

As you probably recall, I am not musical at all so I can not take any credit for the musical talent she has been gifted with.  In fact, I always failed at trying to even clap out a beat back in elementary school; to this day I still struggle with clapping in time.  I think all my Third Day music has inspired me to “sway to the music.”  A much better fit for me.

When I was a youngster, I only listened to a few songs on a record; I did not really listen to the radio.

While quizzing my daughter for three different quizzes that I mentioned above, I have probably known about five of the songs.  My eyes got wide and I was excited to tell my daughter that I actually recognized one on her list, You’ve Got a Friend, by Carole King, while quizzing her this week!

 

Photo courtesy of Gary Lund under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0); words added by hopetoinspireyou.com

 

I recall having it on a 45 record (for those old enough to know what those are!). I did not take time to play the snippet of the song that she had but she said, “You know they have this thing called YouTube on the internet where you could listen to it.”

It was quite the “God moment” when, six days later, I actually saw a person post a link to that song via social media!  What are the chances of that happening?  So, I took the time right then and there to listen to the song.

 

It sure was cool listening to it after all these years!

Even back then, I always enjoyed a song more for the lyrics rather than noticing the music part of it.

 

As a side note, what are the chances that just today, my publishing day, as I was sitting in a travel agency, that You’ve Got a Friend came on the radio? God sure is amazing! 

 

In case you are not familiar with the song or just want to take a stroll down memory lane if you are familiar with the song, here is a link.  Below are the lyrics.

 

Carole King Lyrics

“You’ve Got A Friend”

When you’re down and troubled,
And you need some love and care,
And nothing, 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 to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend

If the sky above you grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
And I’ll be there, yes I will.

Now, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them,
Oh, but don’t you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, running, yeah, yeah, yeah, to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there, yes I will.
You’ve got a friend

You’ve got a friend
Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend?
Ain’t it good to know?
Ain’t it good to know?
Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend?

Oh yeah, now
Oh, you’ve got a friend
Yeah, baby
You’ve got a friend
Oh yeah…
You’ve got a friend

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/caroleking/youvegotafriend.html

 

I can not quite recall today why I liked the song so much when I was a kid, but I can speak about my current thoughts on the song….

 

Listening to the song today, the song is a perfect description of the one and only true, dependable friend, JESUS!

 

Think about it….

 

Who is always there…..

….when you’re down and troubled…

….need some love and care….

….to brighten your darkest night….

…when the storm clouds come knocking on your door….

…when others are cold, hurt and desert you….

 

Yes, JESUS is!!!

 

 

All we need to do at anytime is….

….just call His name….

And He will come running to see you again….

To be there for you….

To be your one, true, unfailing friend!

 

 

The song also inspires me to try to be that faithful, trusted friend being there for others, though in our humanness, we will at times fail others.  But, striving to be like the friend Jesus is to us is a good thing!

 

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.  –Psalm 145:18 (NLT)

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. –John 15:15 (NLT)

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.  –Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)