1146 – James Taylor – You've got a friend (1971)

Escrita por Carole King, foi primeiramente gravada por ela em 1971 no disco Tapestry, mas a nossa versão é a de James Taylor, também lançada em 1971, no disco Mud slide slim and the blue horizon. Quando lançada em compacto chegou ao número 1 nos charts pop americanos e número 4 nos charts britânicos. As duas versões foram gravadas ao mesmo tempo, com os mesmos músicos.

A versão de James ganhou dois Grammies.

Foi regravada por Dusty Springfield, Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin e Anne Murray, entre outros artistas.

James Taylor cantou e tocou violão. Joni Mitchell fez backing vocals. Denny Kortchmar tocou violão e congas. Leland Skalar tocou baixo e Russ Kunkel tocou bateria, congas e cabasa.

A letra:

When you're down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
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, oh yeah baby, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you've got to do is call
And I'll be there, ye, ye, ye
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep you head together
And call my name out loud now
Soon you'll hear me knocking at you door

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

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them, oh yeah, don't you let 'em now

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again, oh baby, don't you know
Winter, spring, summer or fall
Hey now, 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, yeah

Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend

Oh, ye yeah, you've got a friend

A versão de James Taylor:

A versão de Carole King:

A versão de Michael Jackson: