So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke
Your love life's DOA
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year, but

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast
So far, things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah

It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

I'll Be There for You Lyrics as written by David L Crane Michael Jay Skloff

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I'll Be There For You song meanings
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39 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    OK, so I’ve taken literature this year as my major and I hope that I can explain these lyrics well. I’ve tried to be as descriptive as possible.

    This was the theme song of the TV show Friends, which went on the air in 1994 and quickly became a ratings powerhouse. The theme was written by the songwriters Allee Willis and Michael Skloff.

    So no one told you life was gonna be this way Your job's a joke, you're broke Your love life's D-O-A It's saying how bad the person's life is. Bad job, no money, and no love life whatsoever. And DOA means "Dead On Arrival" and is mostly a hospital term. It basically means non-existent. Your love life’s DOA means that the person’s love life doesn’t exist.

    It's like you're always stuck in second gear It’s a mental image of an automobile. Car transmissions have gears, first is slowest (used to get the car moving from a stop), second is a little faster, third is the next fastest and sometimes there is a fourth or fifth gear. Usually for travelling at high speeds, one would use fourth or fifth gear. Usually for travelling at high speeds, one would use fourth or fifth gear. So, second gear is not very fast. The idea here is that the one who is stuck on second gear is not performing to their best potential and is not moving towards their goal very fast. The person is stuck in second gear, the person’s kinda like always moving very slow.

    Oh when it hasn't been your day Your week, your month, or even your year

    I'll be there for you (When the rain starts to pour) I'll be there for you (Like I've been there before) I'll be there for you ('Cause you're there for me, too) It is about the loyalty of friends. That no matter how screwed up your life was, I'll be there for you.

    You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight You've burned your breakfast This highlights the person’s screwed up life.

    So far things are going great It’s sarcastically saying that things are going great when they are absolutely not.

    Your mother warned you there'd be days like these But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees It's like you're always stuck in second gear

    Before we put our first step in this whole new world of independence, our mothers warns us that these days might come. When we are screwed up, we don’t actually seem to speed up. Things go on very slow and our mom didn’t tell you what to do when the world brought you down to your knees, i.e., forced to submission.

    No one could ever know me No one could ever see me Seems you're the only one who knows What it's like to be me

    Someone to face the day with Make it through all the rest with Someone I'll always laugh with Even at my worst I'm best with you

    (1st person) These lines prove how close their friendship is. No one could ever know me truly like you do. I’m almost invisible to anyone but you, more like a nobody to anyone but you. You are always there for me no matter what.

    This song generally explains the loyalty in various sentences. Source: My brain and thesaurus

    Romantic2000on April 05, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is so energised and I love listening to it. And its the theme song to friends and that is the BEST show in the world. Also The lyrics are soo good in this song

    Kristin2089on July 04, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    OK, so I’ve taken literature this year as my major and I hope that I can explain these lyrics well. I’ve tried to be as descriptive as possible.

    This was the theme song of the TV show Friends, which went on the air in 1994 and quickly became a ratings powerhouse. The theme was written by the songwriters Allee Willis and Michael Skloff.

    So no one told you life was gonna be this way Your job's a joke, you're broke Your love life's D-O-A It's saying how bad the person's life is. Bad job, no money, and no love life whatsoever. And DOA means "Dead On Arrival" and is mostly a hospital term. It basically means non-existent. Your love life’s DOA means that the person’s love life doesn’t exist.

    It's like you're always stuck in second gear It’s a mental image of an automobile. Car transmissions have gears, first is slowest (used to get the car moving from a stop), second is a little faster, third is the next fastest and sometimes there is a fourth or fifth gear. Usually for travelling at high speeds, one would use fourth or fifth gear. Usually for travelling at high speeds, one would use fourth or fifth gear. So, second gear is not very fast. The idea here is that the one who is stuck on second gear is not performing to their best potential and is not moving towards their goal very fast. The person is stuck in second gear, the person’s kinda like always moving very slow.

    Oh when it hasn't been your day Your week, your month, or even your year

    I'll be there for you (When the rain starts to pour) I'll be there for you (Like I've been there before) I'll be there for you ('Cause you're there for me, too) It is about the loyalty of friends. That no matter how screwed up your life was, I'll be there for you.

    You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight You've burned your breakfast This highlights the person’s screwed up life.

    So far things are going great It’s sarcastically saying that things are going great when they are absolutely not.

    Your mother warned you there'd be days like these But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees It's like you're always stuck in second gear

    Before we put our first step in this whole new world of independence, our mothers warns us that these days might come. When we are screwed up, we don’t actually seem to speed up. Things go on very slow and our mom didn’t tell you what to do when the world brought you down to your knees, i.e., forced to submission.

    No one could ever know me No one could ever see me Seems you're the only one who knows What it's like to be me

    Someone to face the day with Make it through all the rest with Someone I'll always laugh with Even at my worst I'm best with you

    (1st person) These lines prove how close their friendship is. No one could ever know me truly like you do. I’m almost invisible to anyone but you, more like a nobody to anyone but you. You are always there for me no matter what.

    This song generally explains the loyalty in various sentences. Source: My brain and thesaurus

    Romantic2000on April 05, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm so upset about them ending the show...oh well... I guess they don't have a choice. It happens to all the shows eventually. This song is so special.

    Diana10119on August 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Friends!!Chandler RUUUUULEs~

    emoBettyrocketon June 04, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    MmmmMMM it reminds me of Friends! I love Joey!

    Kelly_Ripa_Fan4evaon May 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Don't really like Friends... it's good for cheap laughs. This song, on the other hand, is awesome! I could listen to this anytime and it will put me in a good mood! Not many songs can do that for me!

    ThatKidSteveon April 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is cheap.

    sparklin_starzzzon August 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song means nothing, but it's a nice feel-good song. it's catchy and a good theme tune to Friends

    songisticon December 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    even if this wasnt from one of the best tv shows ever.. this would still be a good song with fantastic lyrics. i think everyone can relate to them, because when you're having a rough time in life, the people you really need are your FRIENDS.

    little_miss_failureon January 24, 2006   Link

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