Author Topic: He Was A Friend of Mine.. (Read 11633 times)

Kajunite · « **on:** July 13, 2006, 09:54:22 pm »

I am sure this has been done but I can't stop singing this haltingly perfect lamentation for Ennis. Bob Dylan wrote this song some time ago but it is perfectly worded for poor Ennis at the end of the movie.

He Was A Friend of Mine.

He was a friend of mine,
He was a friend of mine,
Everytime I think of him, I just
can't keep from crying.
Cause he was a friend of mine.

He died all alone,
He died all alone,
Just kept on moving, never
reaped what he could sow.
And he was a friend of mine.

I stole away and cried,
I stole away and cried,
Never had much money; I've
never been quite satisfied.
And he was a friend of mine.

He was a friend of mine,
He was a friend of mine,
Every time I hear his name Lord
I just can't keep from crying
Cause he was a friend of mine.

I just getting to where I can sing or hum it without crying but when I think of the last scene of Ennis I start singing this song. Perfectly worded.

moremojo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2006, 10:15:28 pm »

Hey there, Kajunite--

I love this song too, and find it fits the story's tragic conclusion perfectly. I had never heard of it, or heard any rendition of it, before seeing Brokeback Mountain. I tried looking it up some months ago in a book of Bob Dylan's lyrics I encountered in the bookstore, but was puzzled by not finding any mention of it there. According to Front-Ranger, another of our members, Dylan did not actually write this song, but heard it during his early folk days and wrote it down (I assume he also made a recording of it). Its authorship seems to be anonymous.

Rufus Wainwright's "Maker Makes", which immediately follows "He Was a Friend of Mine" during the closing credits, is another very poignant and apposite song for the film.

Scott

bbm_stitchbuffyfan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2006, 10:21:14 pm »

I love both "He Was a Friend of Mine" and "The Maker Makes" but, like the majority of songs on the Brokeback soundtrack, I cannot often listen to them because they make me really, really depressed and so hurt.

Heartbreaking, perfectly-fitting, and incredible come to mind as apt descriptions for these songs...

Kajunite · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2006, 11:16:02 pm »

Hey friends... I had heard this song before this but it was Willie Nelson singing it. I have never heard Bob Dylan's rendition and that's just as well because Bob is not (in IMO) a very good singer. The credits shown for the song said this was a Bob Dylan's song. The print is so small in the song credits (at the very end of the credits) that it could be saying that Bob Dylan arranged this version, and that does not mean that he wrote it. It fits the occassion very well.

tamarack · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2006, 09:01:59 am »

Quote from: Kajunite on July 13, 2006, 11:16:02 pm

... Bob is not (in IMO) a very good singer.

With Dylan, it's not the singing, it's the writing. (It's definitely not the singing...although some times are better than others.)

MaineWriter · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2006, 09:26:35 am »

I posted the history on this song a gazillion years ago on the IMDb thread, but of course, that has long since vanished.

Back in 1960/1961, Bob Dylan showed up on the Guthrie family doorstep in NY, looking to meet Woody. Arlo (who was 13 at the time) answered the door and explained that his father was in the hospital. Woody Guthrie, at that time, was in suffering from Huntington's Chorea and spent the last decade of his life in a psychiatric hospital.

Dylan visited Woody in the hospital and began writing songs shortly after that. On November 20 and 22, 1961, Dylan recorded a number of songs, many of which became his debut, eponymous album, "Bob Dylan." "He Was A Friend Of Mine" was actually recorded at that time but not included on the LP. It was not released until 1991, on "The Bootleg Series, Vol 1-3."

Dylan did sing the song in concert and people were familiar with it. There are a number of other cover versions (including Willie Nelson's which is the most recent) that have been released over the years. including The Grateful Dead, Jerry Jeff Walker, and The Byrds, who turned it into a tribute to President Kennedy after his assassination.

Leslie

Kajunite · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2006, 11:42:32 am »

Thanks. I knew Willie did not write it. Now I know the whole score on the issue. I am glad to know the full story. It is a good song.

MaineWriter · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2006, 11:55:45 am »

Quote from: Kajunite on July 16, 2006, 11:42:32 am

Thanks. I knew Willie did not write it. Now I know the whole score on the issue. I am glad to know the full story. It is a good song.

The Bob Dylan version is actually very good...in early, reedy Bob Dylan voice, of course. Maybe he's an acquired taste, but I like most of his old stuff.

Leslie

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2006, 12:07:31 pm »

Tell you what, I'm notorious for mishearing lyrics.

I thought, "He died all alone," was, "He died on the road," which just made things worse because it made me think of Ennis thinking of Jack's death, so that I could hardly stand to listen to it.

By the end of the theatrical run, I was rushing out of the theater as soon as the final shot faded so I wouldn't have to listen to it.

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2006, 12:47:45 pm »

Thanks, Scott, for remembering and reiterating what I said. Bob Dylan wrote down quite a few old folk songs and recorded them. He is truly amazing. Has anybody listened to his new radio show?

Amber · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2006, 01:24:57 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 16, 2006, 12:07:31 pm

I thought, "He died all alone," was, "He died on the road," which just made things worse because it made me think of Ennis thinking of Jack's death, so that I could hardly stand to listen to it.

You are not alone! I've never looked up the lyrics myself but I could swear to you that is what Willie is singing. That's how I sing it even! I had no clue *lol* I'm not sure "He died all alone" makes things any better for me ... that is certainly fitting as well.

Quote

but it is perfectly worded for poor Ennis at the end of the movie.

This is exactly what I've thought from the very beginning. The words just seem to fit Ennis so perfectly you could swear it was written for the movie. The first dozen times I watched the movie I couldn't even bare to listen to this song during the credits ... it totally ripped my heart out!

Quote

I have never heard Bob Dylan's rendition and that's just as well because Bob is not (in IMO) a very good singer

Haha, another thing we agree on! (Although I will agree that his magic is in his song writing!). Bob Dylan actually scares me. I think he is a very scary looking man and I can't bare to watch him perform on TV *lol* It's a running joke with friends/family now - "Cover your eyes Amber here comes Bob!"

dly64 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2006, 07:18:03 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 16, 2006, 12:07:31 pm

Tell you what, I'm notorious for mishearing lyrics.

I thought, "He died all alone," was, "He died on the road," which just made things worse because it made me think of Ennis thinking of Jack's death, so that I could hardly stand to listen to it.

By the end of the theatrical run, I was rushing out of the theater as soon as the final shot faded so I wouldn't have to listen to it.

I thought the same thing!!!

Does anyone know where to find the lyrics for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old", "I Don't Want To Say Goodbye" and "Maker Makes"? I think I know the majority of the lyrics ... but since I misuderstood "He died all alone" as "He died on the road" .... I think it would be good to check myself.

fernly · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2006, 09:35:16 pm »

Quote from: dly64 on July 16, 2006, 07:18:03 pm

I thought the same thing!!!

Does anyone know where to find the lyrics for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old", "I Don't Want To Say Goodbye" and "Maker Makes"? I think I know the majority of the lyrics ... but since I misuderstood "He died all alone" as "He died on the road" .... I think it would be good to check myself.

I heard it that way, too!

Here's a link:
http://www.soundtracklyrics.net/b/brokeback-mountain.htm

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2006, 09:46:02 pm »

Quote from: fernly on July 16, 2006, 09:35:16 pm

I heard it that way, too!

Here's a link:
http://www.soundtracklyrics.net/b/brokeback-mountain.htm

Here's one to Bob Dylan lyrics, specifically to "He Was a Friend of Mine."

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/wasafriend.html

Um ... maybe my hearing ain't always as bad as I sometimes think it is.

dly64 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2006, 10:09:40 pm »

Quote from: fernly on July 16, 2006, 09:35:16 pm

I heard it that way, too!

Here's a link:
http://www.soundtracklyrics.net/b/brokeback-mountain.htm

Thanks for the site. This confirms what you, Jeff and I have thought:

Willie Nelson lyrics,
He Was A Friend Of Mine lyrics

He was a friend of mine
Every time I think of him
I just can't keep from cryin'
'Cause he was a friend of mine

He died on the road
He died on the road
He just kept on moving
Never reaped what he could sow
And he was a friend of mine

I stole away and cried
I stole away and cried
'Cause I never had too much money
And I never been quite satisfied
And he was a friend of mine

He never done no wrong
He never done no wrong
A thousand miles from home
And he never harmed no one
And he was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I hear his name Lord
I just can't keep from cryin'
'Cause he was a friend of mine.

Kajunite · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2006, 10:19:15 pm »

I stand corrected. Thanks, Jeff; et al! I went back to listen to it. The first time this phrase was sung it sounded like '...all alone' but the second line was more clear when I heard it.

I wear hearing aids (really) and sometimes these things don't hear too well.

Neverless, I see my error but I think my version would have been better as Jack died because no one was there to turn him over which tells me that he was all alone. Thanks again. Ernie...Kajunite.

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2006, 09:05:40 am »

Tell you what, Ernie, that's why I can hardly stand to listen to it. 'Cause whether or not Jack was murdered or died as a result of an accident, he was still all alone ... on the side of that back road. He didn't deserve to "go" that way. No one does.

Thanks for starting this thread. At least this was one BBM mystery that could be resolved!

Kajunite · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2006, 11:36:44 am »

Thanks, Jeff! Willie Nelson did not include the verse #3 in the movie song as you have it above. The "He Never Done No Wrong" verse and it seems appropriate to me also. Poor Ennis....

dly64 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2006, 11:40:13 am »

Quote from: Kajunite on July 17, 2006, 11:36:44 am

Thanks, Jeff! Willie Nelson did not include the verse #3 in the movie song as you have it above. The "He Never Done No Wrong" verse and it seems appropriate to me also. Poor Ennis....

It's on the CD. The CD is great! So many woinderful songs! I'd encourage you to get it!

Daphne7661 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2006, 12:01:50 pm »

I love the soundtrack, too, but simply cannot listen to "He Was A Friend Of Mine"

Thinking about Jack all alone (even though those aren't in the lyrics) and dying, with "no one to turn him over"....well... I feel like I'm going to keel over and pass out...

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2006, 12:04:30 pm »

Quote from: dly64 on July 17, 2006, 11:40:13 am

It's on the CD. The CD is great! So many woinderful songs! I'd encourage you to get it!

Speaking of the soundtrack CD, I was initially disappointed that it didn't include the actual Roger Miller "King of the Road," which is what Jack is listening to on the pickup radio as he drives to Ennis's after the divorce (and looking so happy!), but I have to admit I've come to like the Teddy Thompson/Rufus Wainwright version.

Not better than Roger Miller's original, but I like it.

dly64 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 17, 2006, 12:23:36 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 17, 2006, 12:04:30 pm

Speaking of the soundtrack CD, I was initially disappointed that it didn't include the actual Roger Miller "King of the Road," which is what Jack is listening to on the pickup radio as he drives to Ennis's after the divorce (and looking so happy!), but I have to admit I've come to like the Teddy Thompson/Rufus Wainwright version.

Not better than Roger Miller's original, but I like it.

Ditto ... I couldn't agree with you more! But the CD version is good ... once you get used to it!

Kajunite · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2006, 12:33:43 pm »

King of the road is not by Roger Miller on ST? Interesting. Copyright laws are such that (I believe I am right) 25 years after the original writer of a song dies, the song becomes Public Domain and anyone can record it. I did not realize that Roger had been dead that long, but this must be what happened. Ernie...

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2006, 12:48:43 pm »

Quote from: Kajunite on July 17, 2006, 12:33:43 pm

King of the road is not by Roger Miller on ST? Interesting. Copyright laws are such that (I believe I am right) 25 years after the original writer of a song dies, the song becomes Public Domain and anyone can record it. I did not realize that Roger had been dead that long, but this must be what happened. Ernie...

Reading back over my last post, it occurs to me that I want to make sure I'm clear. It is Roger Miller that we hear on Jack's pickup truck radio in the movie. On the soundtrack CD, however, "King of the Road" is a cover (is that the term?) by Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright.

The Thompson/Wainwright version kinda grew on me after I listened to it a couple of times. It has a nice, "bluesy" kind of "feel" to it.

Kajunite · « **Reply #24 on:** July 17, 2006, 01:36:40 pm »

My surprise at Roger not being on the ST was because he was on the radio that day. A point I have to keep reminding myself is the time differential. In the movie when it was taking place, they would have been amiss having the wrong person singing the song as it would not have been on the radio at that time by anyone but Roger.

The soundtrack was compiled in recent times and having the original version on the track probably was fraught with legal hazzards as Roger is dead many years now. They felt they should include it on the ST and they felt that this was the simplest way to do it. What do you think?

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #25 on:** July 17, 2006, 05:56:10 pm »

Quote from: Kajunite on July 17, 2006, 01:36:40 pm

My surprise at Roger not being on the ST was because he was on the radio that day. A point I have to keep reminding myself is the time differential. In the movie when it was taking place, they would have been amiss having the wrong person singing the song as it would not have been on the radio at that time by anyone but Roger.

The soundtrack was compiled in recent times and having the original version on the track probably was fraught with legal hazzards as Roger is dead many years now. They felt they should include it on the ST and they felt that this was the simplest way to do it. What do you think?

I would suspect the "legal niceties" have something to do with it, but not being a lawyer, I have no clue.

On the one hand, I would think that if they could use the Roger Miller original in the film, they could include it on the soundtrack CD. On the other hand, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we only hear a portion of the Miller original in the film, whereas of course they would want to include the entire song on the CD--which they do in the form of the Thompson/Wainwright cover.

dly64 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 17, 2006, 07:43:59 pm »

Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on July 17, 2006, 05:56:10 pm

I would suspect the "legal niceties" have something to do with it, but not being a lawyer, I have no clue.

On the one hand, I would think that if they could use the Roger Miller original in the film, they could include it on the soundtrack CD. On the other hand, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we only hear a portion of the Miller original in the film, whereas of course they would want to include the entire song on the CD--which they do in the form of the Thompson/Wainwright cover.

I thought so, too. I have a link that I am going to check out ... It was for the Academy voters and it has all of the songs ... original ... Will let you know if it is worth burning.

2robots4u · « **Reply #27 on:** July 28, 2006, 12:47:53 am »

dly64...the lyrics to the songs you mentioned are on the BBM "soundtrack" I used ".." because it is not actually a soundtrack in traditional form, but includes full versions of all the songs in the movie. For example, in the movie we head about 8 secs of "The Devil's Right Hand", only a bar or two of "King of the Road", and just a brief intro to "No One's Gonna Love You Like Me", and the same with my personal favorite, "I Don't Want To Say Goodbye". "He died on the road" is the correct line, a possible reference to Jack's constant driving between Texas and Wyoming. The soundtrack also features additional verses to "He Was A Friend Of Mine" and "The Maker
Makes" (if only we could understand Rufus Wainwright). If anyone can provide the words to "The Maker Makes" I would surely appreciate it....

dly64 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 28, 2006, 09:29:01 am »

Quote from: [email protected] on July 28, 2006, 12:47:53 am

dly64...the lyrics to the songs you mentioned are on the BBM "soundtrack" I used ".." because it is not actually a soundtrack in traditional form, but includes full versions of all the songs in the movie. For example, in the movie we head about 8 secs of "The Devil's Right Hand", only a bar or two of "King of the Road", and just a brief intro to "No One's Gonna Love You Like Me", and the same with my personal favorite, "I Don't Want To Say Goodbye". "He died on the road" is the correct line, a possible reference to Jack's constant driving between Texas and Wyoming. The soundtrack also features additional verses to "He Was A Friend Of Mine" and "The Maker
Makes" (if only we could understand Rufus Wainwright). If anyone can provide the words to "The Maker Makes" I would surely appreciate it....

Here they are ...

Maker Makes
Rufus Wainwright

One more chain I break
To get me closer to you
One more chain does the maker make
To keep me from bustin' through

One more notch I scratch
To keep me thinkin' of you
One more notch does the maker make
Upon my face so blue

Get along, little doggies
Get along, little doggies

One more smile I fake
And try my best to be glad
One more smile does the maker make
Because he knows I'm sad

Oh Lord, how I know
Oh Lord, how I see
That only can the maker make
A happy man of me

Get along little doggies
Get along little doggies
Get along

I am guessing you have the CD? It is great!

2robots4u · « **Reply #29 on:** July 28, 2006, 03:16:08 pm »

Have the CD, just can't understand Rufus. Thanks.

dly64 · « **Reply #30 on:** July 28, 2006, 06:10:16 pm »

Quote from: [email protected] on July 28, 2006, 03:16:08 pm

Have the CD, just can't understand Rufus. Thanks.

He is hard to understand. The words are great .... it took me a long time to find those things, too!!

azphil · « **Reply #31 on:** July 30, 2006, 03:20:33 pm »

Thank you, thank you, "dly64, for sharing Rufus' words to "Maker Makes" so that everyone here can consider their meaning, as concerns "our two guys."

To me, they tell so much of what Ennis must be feeling and thinking after that last teary-eyed, trailer scene of his, and during the difficult days to follow......without his Jack. The song's words tell us of his struggle to get closer to Jack.......despite the efforts of some "higher power" to make that more difficult.

So sad, so sad.

dly64 · « **Reply #32 on:** July 30, 2006, 05:07:30 pm »

Quote from: azphil on July 30, 2006, 03:20:33 pm

Thank you, thank you, "dly64, for sharing Rufus' words to "Maker Makes" so that everyone here can consider their meaning, as concerns "our two guys."

To me, they tell so much of what Ennis must be feeling and thinking after that last teary-eyed, trailer scene of his, and during the difficult days to follow......without his Jack. The song's words tell us of his struggle to get closer to Jack.......despite the efforts of some "higher power" to make that more difficult.

So sad, so sad.

You are certainly welcome. The words are a killer. This song also kills me (this is played in Jack's truck right after he has left Ennis after having driven 14 hours to see him and is then turned away. Jack's hopes were dashed at that moment ... he knows that the life he had hoped to have with Ennis will never happen).

Love That Will Never Grow Old
Music By: Gustavo Santaolalla
Lyrics By: Bernie Taupin
Performed By: Emmylou Harris

Go to sleep, may your sweet dreams come true
Just lay back in my arms for one more night
I've this crazy old notion that calls me sometimes
Saying this one's the love of our lives.

Refrain:
Cause I know a love that will never grow old
And I know a love that will never grow old.

When you wake up the world may have changed
But trust in me, I'll never falter or fail
Just the smile in your eyes, it can light up the night,
And your laughter's like wind in my sails.

(Refrain)

Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rutted old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

(Refrain)

JCinNYC2006 · « **Reply #33 on:** July 30, 2006, 05:26:25 pm »

I read that because they used so little of "A Love..." in the film, it was ineligible for an Oscar for best original song. I don't get why it was able to win a Golden Globe though.

One night when I was chatting with a bunch of folks, we were talking about King of the Road, and there are at least 5 versions available by different people. The Proclaimers (with a heavy Scottish accent), Randy Travis, Dean Martin even.

Juan

dly64 · « **Reply #34 on:** July 30, 2006, 05:56:28 pm »

Quote from: JCinNYC2006 on July 30, 2006, 05:26:25 pm

I read that because they used so little of "A Love..." in the film, it was ineligible for an Oscar for best original song. I don't get why it was able to win a Golden Globe though.

One night when I was chatting with a bunch of folks, we were talking about King of the Road, and there are at least 5 versions available by different people. The Proclaimers (with a heavy Scottish accent), Randy Travis, Dean Martin even.

Juan

Hi Juan -

What are the rules for the Oscars? I wondered why "A Love ..." was not nominated. I thought that it had to be written for the film and appear somewhere in the body of the film or the first song when the titles role. If that would have been the case, the song would have been eligible. Just curious!

Do you have the CD? There is another version of "King of the Road" .... sung by Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright. I've learned to like it, but at first I wasn't so sure!

nakymaton · « **Reply #35 on:** July 30, 2006, 06:00:44 pm »

The word was that the song wasn't intelligible when it played. The music branch ruled it ineligible before the nominations even happened.

JT · « **Reply #36 on:** July 31, 2006, 05:39:30 pm »

Most of the songs in that cd seems to pertain to our boys in the movie. They're all pretty darn good too. My only complaint is that it's too short. There are five or six songs I heard in the movie that were not in the cd, but overall I love it. I'm glad the the sound track won the Oscar.

dly64 · « **Reply #37 on:** July 31, 2006, 08:35:33 pm »

Quote from: JT on July 31, 2006, 05:39:30 pm

Most of the songs in that cd seems to pertain to our boys in the movie. They're all pretty darn good too. My only complaint is that it's too short. There are five or six songs I heard in the movie that were not in the cd, but overall I love it. I'm glad the the sound track won the Oscar.

There is apparently a CD download that includes a bunch of the songs that are not on the "official" CD. Once I find out more info, I will let you know.

2robots4u · « **Reply #38 on:** July 31, 2006, 09:31:01 pm »

dly64...you are correct on what qualifies a song for oscar consideration: must be an original song specifically written for the film, must be featured in opening and/or closing credits or somewhere in the film. Unfortunately, it is not featured, but is heard for just a brief moment (I don't recall the scene at the moment). I am very surprized that it was not heard in the closing credits, or perhaps as background during the "discovery of the shirts in Jack's closet". Such a shame, for it is indeed a great song.

dly64 · « **Reply #39 on:** July 31, 2006, 10:33:31 pm »

Quote from: [email protected] on July 31, 2006, 09:31:01 pm

dly64...you are correct on what qualifies a song for oscar consideration: must be an original song specifically written for the film, must be featured in opening and/or closing credits or somewhere in the film. Unfortunately, it is not featured, but is heard for just a brief moment (I don't recall the scene at the moment). I am very surprized that it was not heard in the closing credits, or perhaps as background during the "discovery of the shirts in Jack's closet". Such a shame, for it is indeed a great song.

I agree! I wish it would have been more prominent in the movie. (It was the song playing on the radio after Jack left Ennis having driven 14 hours to see him only to be turned away. DEVASTATING!!!)

News:

Author Topic: He Was A Friend of Mine.. (Read 11633 times)

moremojo