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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHe Was a Friend of Mine
The Byrds, 1966
The Byrds' version featured newly written lyrics by McGuinn dealing with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The song pre-dated the formation of The Byrds, as McGuinn explained to author Johnny Rogan in 1977: "I wrote that song the night John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I suppose you could say it's one of the earliest Byrds songs." "He Was a Friend of Mine" is notable for being the first Byrds' recording to feature McGuinn playing an acoustic guitar, instead of his usual twelve-string Rickenbacker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!_%28album%29
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He Was a Friend of Mine (Original Post)
hermetic
Nov 2013
OP
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)1. .
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)2. Wow, I just copied You Tube URL to post. I like your version with the Kennedy photos better.
This song was one reason the Byrds were my favorite group.
Lyrics:
He was a friend of mine, he was a friend of mine
His killing had no purpose, no reason or rhyme
Oh, he was a friend of mine
He was in Dallas town, he was in Dallas town
From a sixth floor window a gunner shot him down
Oh, he died in Dallas town
He never knew my name, he never knew my name
Though I never met him I knew him just the same
Oh, he was a friend of mine
Leader of a nation for such a precious time
Oh, he was a friend of mine
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)3. That song made my eyes tear up.
I was 24 when he died. And I vote for him right after I turned 21.
ailsagirl
(22,896 posts)4. Great song
Can't believe it's been 50 years