(recitation, no singing) Verse 1 Eb Eb7 Eb Friends are never earned Eb7 EAb They're a gift from the loving God Ab7 And they're precious beyond human valuation Bb7 Bb Ab But you dare not take them for granted Eb Or they'll drift away like smoke Cm And the warmth of their caring will vanish Cm7 Dm Dm7 Like the chill of the endless nights Verse 2 Bb Bb7 Bb Most of my friends are unknowns Eb Eb7 And they probably won't rate an obituary Eb Eb7 Unless they live and die in small towns Ab Fm Where nothing much ever happens Db But a few of my friends are big people Eb Eb7 Cm They'd made the world ring with laughter Fm Bb Down to it's gaseous burning core Eb Ab Eb They're famous, sensitive, talented Bb Eb And their names are household words Ebm7 Ab Bb Yet they are no more precious in God's eyes or in mine Eb Eb7 Than those wonderful nobodys who live and die in small towns Verse 3 Cm Who is your friend? Eb Eb7 Ab He's someone who warms you with a nod Gm Dm Or with the unspoken word in hard times Bb When you're hurting beyond words Gm Bb Who is your friend? Eb She's someone who holds you to her breast Eb7 Ab And sighs softly into your hair Eb7 Eb When no other medicine can stop the pain Cm Db A friend is someone who clinks his glass against yours Or answers the phone Eb Cm At three in the morning when you're lost Fm Eb7 And with a few words of encouragement and concern Bb Eb Eb Makes you realize you aren't really lost at all Outro Bb Ab Eb Friends come in both sexes and in all shapes and sizes Cm The most important thing they have in common Fm Bb Is the ability to share with you your most sky splitting joys Eb Ab Ab Or your deepest, most awesome sorrows Eb Eb For they are your friends