We thought she would live forever. At ninety-nine, she was just one year younger than my grandpa Neil (who I’m convinced will bury us all). I used to watch the Golden Girls with my grandma Myrtle. And while I never expected to cover the theme song, last year I did on the 7 Covers project. It’s such an upbeat happy tune in the sitcom, but the full lyrics are deep an heavier(and now seem oddly fitting). I tried to reflect that in this version. Rest in peace, Betty.
//Lyrics//
Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
Your heart is true you’re a pal and a confidant
I’m not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won’t you stand up and take a bow
And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
If it’s a car you lack
I’d surely buy you a Cadillac
Whatever you need, anytime of the day or night
I’m not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won’t you stand up and take a bow
And when we both get older
With walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it’s hard to hear
I will stand real close and say,
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
And when we die and float away
Into the night, the Milky Way
You’ll hear me call, as we ascend
I’ll see you there, then once again
Thank you for being a friend
“Thank You For Being A Friend”
Words and Music by Andrew Gold