The late,great Phyllis Hyman recorded many wonderful songs,but "Old Friend" is easily her best work.It's a heartfelt,beautifully arranged ballad with a wistful feel to it.She was a master at these types of songs,pouring her heart and soul into these lyrics.Many of her songs dealt with heartbreak,pain and loneliness but on this tune,there seems to be a happy ending.It's from her excellent 1986 album Living All Alone ,which just happens to be her masterpiece.I miss Phyllis tremendously,but thank God she left us with an amazing catalog of incredible music.


"Old Friend"

(written by Linda Creed)


A million times or more I thought about you
The years,the tears,the laughter,the things we used to do
The memories that warm me like a sunny day
you touched my life in such a special way

I miss the way you'd run your fingers thorugh my hair
those cozy nights we cuddled in your easy chair
Oh no,I won't let foolish pride turn you away
I'll take you back whatever price I pay

(chorus)
Old friend
it's so nice to feel you hold me again
No,it doesn't matter where you have been
my heart welcomes you back home again

Remember those romantic walks we used to take
you held my hand in such a way my knees would shake
You can't imagine just how much I've needed you
I've never loved someone as I love you

(chorus)
Old Friend
it's so nice to feel you hold me again
No,it doesn't matter where you have been
my heart welcomes you back

Old Friend
This is where our happy ending begins
yes,I'm sure this time that we're gonna win
welcome back into my life again

Yes,I've tried to live my life without you
knowing I had lost my closest friend
and though I'm feeling low from time to time
knowing I will never find the kind of love I had when you were mine

(chorus)
Old Friend
it's so nice to feel you hold me again
No,it doesn't matter where you have been
my heart welcomes you back

Old Friend
this is where our happy ending begins
Yes,I'm sure this time that we're gonna win
welcome back into my life again

Welcome back into my life again
Welcome back into my life again

1986 is "classic??"

Mutiny04 said:

the 70s rule,but we still had some great songs in the 80s too

Mutiny04 said:

hell yeah!

if you were looking back in 1994 to a song from 1976 you can consider it a classic

now do the maths yourself



but I can imagine what you mean, for us older cats the years are just flying by... moving faster & faster
[This message was edited Fri Mar 12 4:25:28 2004 by Maze]

Maze said:

Actually a song just released this year could classify as a classic....got nothing to do with age...For instance its safe to say (without gving my opinion bout the movie) Return of the King will be a classic or already is...A classic is somethin that will stand the test of time..

This was the LAST song ever written by legendary writer Ms.Linda Creed b4 she died and this was a tribute to her from Miss Hyman!

I looooove this song! So sad that Linda Creed and Phyllis Hyman are both no longer with us.

I agree that alot of her songs dealt with heartbreak, pain and loneliness, especially on the song "Living All Alone ". You can just hear the pain and heartbreak in her voice, especially when she sings "come back to meeeee!" She was a very talented artist who will most certainly be missed.

Oh I love Ms. Phyllis! My favorites are Living All Alone and No One Can Love You More