He Was a Friend of Mine
Encyclopedia
"He Was a Friend of Mine" is a traditional folk song
in which the singer laments the death of a friend. The earliest known version of the song is titled "Shorty George" (Roud
10055). The song has been recorded by many artists, including Bob Dylan
, Dave Van Ronk
, Grateful Dead
, The Washington Squares, Bobby Bare
, Mercury Rev
, The Black Crowes
, The Mitchell Trio, Willie Nelson
, Nanci Griffith
, Cat Power
and, in a reworded version, The Byrds
. The version recorded by Willie Nelson
was used in the film Brokeback Mountain
and inaccurately credits Bob Dylan as the songwriter. Dylan had arranged an early version of the tune in 1962 and his version can be heard on the compilation album The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991.
included a recording of "He Was a Friend of Mine" on their 1965 album Turn! Turn! Turn!
(see 1965 in music
). In The Byrds' version, the song's melody
is altered and the lyrics
are changed to lament the assassination
of John F. Kennedy
. The band's lead guitar
ist Jim McGuinn
rewrote the song's lyrics in late 1963 to give it a more contemporary slant and transform it into a eulogy
for President
Kennedy. McGuinn explained the origins of the song in an interview: "I wrote the song the night John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I suppose you could say it's one of the earliest Byrds songs. The arrangement used was as I'd always sung it. I just thought it was a good idea to include it on the Turn! Turn! Turn! album." Due to the extensively rewritten lyrics of The Byrds version, the officially registered songwriting credit for the song is "Traditional
/new words and arrangement McGuinn".
Following its appearance on the band's second album, the song would go on to become a staple of The Byrds' live concert
repertoire, until their final disbandment in 1973. The band also performed the song during their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival
on June 17, 1967, where band member David Crosby
made controversial remarks alleging that Kennedy had not been killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
alone, but was actually the victim of a U.S. Government
conspiracy. The Byrds’ performance of "He Was a Friend of Mine" at Monterey was included in the 2002 The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
DVD
box set.
In 1990, a reformed line-up of The Byrds, featuring Roger McGuinn
, David Crosby and Chris Hillman
, re-recorded the song for The Byrds box set.
, a five-piece folk group, released a version of the song that reached #126 on the Billboard
charts in December 1963. Bobby Bare also recorded "He Was a Friend of Mine" in 1964, in memory of air crash victim Jim Reeves
. That same year, Petula Clark
released a French version of the song under the title "Toi qui m'as fait pleurer", with Bobby Bare credited as writer.
The Grateful Dead
commonly performed the song during live concerts between 1966 and 1970. While the song is listed on the Grateful Dead's setlists of the time as "He Was a Friend of Mine", the band actually played a medley
consisting of "He Was a Friend of Mine" and the Mark Spoelstra
song, "Just a Hand to Hold". Tom Goodkind of the Washington Squares sang the song with Marco Sin of Dirty Looks on bass and Billy Ficca of Television
on drums at NYC's Paladium as a tribute to friend Abbie Hoffman
. Dave Van Ronk sang the song at the memorial concert for Phil Ochs
in New York City's Madison Square Garden Felt Forum, in May 1976, after Ochs' suicide. The English band, The Bishops
, have also covered the song on their 2009 album, For now.
The song was featured in an episode of the reality television
series Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising
when the gay
pop duo Nemesis
recorded it for the album Rise Up. This version was produced by Barry Manilow
and released June 26, 2007.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
in which the singer laments the death of a friend. The earliest known version of the song is titled "Shorty George" (Roud
Roud Folk Song Index
The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world...
10055). The song has been recorded by many artists, including Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk was an American folk singer, born in Brooklyn, New York, who settled in Greenwich Village, New York, and was eventually nicknamed the "Mayor of MacDougal Street" ....
, Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
, The Washington Squares, Bobby Bare
Bobby Bare
Robert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
, Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, The Mitchell Trio, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
, Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
and, in a reworded version, The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
. The version recorded by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
was used in the film Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx with the screenplay written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry...
and inaccurately credits Bob Dylan as the songwriter. Dylan had arranged an early version of the tune in 1962 and his version can be heard on the compilation album The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991.
The Byrds' version
The ByrdsThe Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
included a recording of "He Was a Friend of Mine" on their 1965 album Turn! Turn! Turn!
Turn! Turn! Turn! (album)
Turn! Turn! Turn! is the second album by the folk rock band The Byrds and was released in December 1965 on Columbia Records . Like its predecessor, Mr. Tambourine Man, the album epitomized the folk rock genre and continued the band's successful mix of vocal harmony and jangly twelve-string...
(see 1965 in music
1965 in music
-Events:*January 4 – Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is sold to CBS for $13 million.*January 12 – Hullabaloo premieres on NBC. The first show included performances by The New Christy Minstrels, comedian Woody Allen, actress Joey Heatherton and a segment from London in which Brian Epstein...
). In The Byrds' version, the song's melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
is altered and the lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
are changed to lament the assassination
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. The band's lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Jim McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
rewrote the song's lyrics in late 1963 to give it a more contemporary slant and transform it into a eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Kennedy. McGuinn explained the origins of the song in an interview: "I wrote the song the night John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I suppose you could say it's one of the earliest Byrds songs. The arrangement used was as I'd always sung it. I just thought it was a good idea to include it on the Turn! Turn! Turn! album." Due to the extensively rewritten lyrics of The Byrds version, the officially registered songwriting credit for the song is "Traditional
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
/new words and arrangement McGuinn".
Following its appearance on the band's second album, the song would go on to become a staple of The Byrds' live concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
repertoire, until their final disbandment in 1973. The band also performed the song during their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
on June 17, 1967, where band member David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
made controversial remarks alleging that Kennedy had not been killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
alone, but was actually the victim of a U.S. Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
conspiracy. The Byrds’ performance of "He Was a Friend of Mine" at Monterey was included in the 2002 The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop
Monterey Pop is a 1968 concert film by D. A. Pennebaker that documents the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967. Among Pennebaker's several camera operators were fellow documentarians Richard Leacock and Albert Maysles...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
box set.
In 1990, a reformed line-up of The Byrds, featuring Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
, David Crosby and Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
, re-recorded the song for The Byrds box set.
Other cover versions
The Briarwood SingersBriarwood Singers
The Briarwood Singers were a 1960s folk band from Miami, Florida consisting of Stan Beach, Barry Monroe, Harry Scholes, Bob Hoffman and Dorinda Duncan. The band is perhaps best known for performing as the opening act of The Beatles' February 12, 1964 concert at Carnegie Hall...
, a five-piece folk group, released a version of the song that reached #126 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts in December 1963. Bobby Bare also recorded "He Was a Friend of Mine" in 1964, in memory of air crash victim Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
. That same year, Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
released a French version of the song under the title "Toi qui m'as fait pleurer", with Bobby Bare credited as writer.
The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
commonly performed the song during live concerts between 1966 and 1970. While the song is listed on the Grateful Dead's setlists of the time as "He Was a Friend of Mine", the band actually played a medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
consisting of "He Was a Friend of Mine" and the Mark Spoelstra
Mark Spoelstra
Mark Warren Spoelstra was an American singer-songwriter and folk and blues guitarist.He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He began his musical career in Los Angeles in his teens and migrated around to wind up in New York City in time to take part in the folk music revival of the early...
song, "Just a Hand to Hold". Tom Goodkind of the Washington Squares sang the song with Marco Sin of Dirty Looks on bass and Billy Ficca of Television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
on drums at NYC's Paladium as a tribute to friend Abbie Hoffman
Abbie Hoffman
Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ....
. Dave Van Ronk sang the song at the memorial concert for Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
in New York City's Madison Square Garden Felt Forum, in May 1976, after Ochs' suicide. The English band, The Bishops
The Bishops
The Bishops are a British indie rock band from London, UK.Mike and Pete Bishop are twin brothers and formed the band in 2002 when they met their eventual third member, Chris McConville, whilst working at their local pub, "The Kings Head", in Barbican...
, have also covered the song on their 2009 album, For now.
The song was featured in an episode of the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising
Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising
Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising is a reality television program originating on the LGBT network Logo. It follows identical twin brothers Jacob and Joshua Miller, who together comprise the pop duo Nemesis, as they seek success in the music business as openly gay artists...
when the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
pop duo Nemesis
Nemesis (musicians)
Nemesis is an openly gay pop music duo consisting of the identical twin brothers Jacob and Joshua Miller. The pair can be differentiated by their hair colors; Jacob is blond, while Joshua's hair is brown. Joshua is also a few minutes older than Jacob. They were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses in...
recorded it for the album Rise Up. This version was produced by Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
and released June 26, 2007.