Home || Episode Guide || FAQ || Jump to the Joey site
© 2000-2024 Darcy Partridge
This document may be posted on internet sites other than www.friends-tv.org only if absolutely nothing is changed.
The Soundtrack album has the TV version and the extended version of the song.
The extended version can also be found on the Rembrandts 1995 album, "L.P."
And a new version can be found on the 2nd Friends Soundtrack Album, Friends Again.
And to answer the most-asked questions about the theme song: There are only four claps; and D.O.A. stands for "dead on arrival."
Lyrics:
So no one told you life was gonna be this way [four claps]
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
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
CHORUS:
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)
Then, the extended version continues with:
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 when the world has brought you down to your knees
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
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 will 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, but
CHORUS
Here are the lyrics:
In the calling out to one another
Of the lovers up and down the strand
In the sound of the waves and the cries
Of the seagulls circling the sand
In the fragments of the songs
Carried down the wind from some radio
In the murmuring of the city in the distance
Ominous and low
I hear the sound of the world where we played
And the far too simple beauty
Of the promises we made
If you ever need holding
Call my name, and I'll be there
If you ever need holding
And no holding back, and I'll see you through
Sky Blue And Black
Where the touch of the lover ends
And the soul of the friend begins
There's a need to be separate and a need to be one
And a struggle neither wins
Where you gave me the world I was in
And a place I could make a stand
I could never see how you doubted me
When I'd let go of you hand
Yeah, and I was much younger then
And I must have thought that I would know
If things were going to end
And the heavens were rolling
Like a wheel on a track
And our sky was unfolding
And it'll never fold back
Sky Blue And Black
And I'd have fought the world for you
If I thought that you wanted me to
Or put aside what was true or untrue
If I'd known that's what you needed
What you needed me to do
But the moment has passed by me now
To have put away my pride
And just come through for you somehow
If you ever need holding
Call my name, and I'll be there
If you ever need holding
And no holding back, I'll see you through
You're the color of the sky
Reflected in each store-front window pane
You're the whispering and the sighing
Of my tires in the rain
You're the hidden cost and the thing that's lost
In everything I do
Yeah and I'll never stop looking for you
In the sunlight and the shadows
And the faces on the avenue
That's the way love is
- TOW the Thumb, when Chandler was being sneaking about smoking at work
- TOW Eddie won't go, when Chandler came home cautiously, worried that Eddie might still be there.
I don't know the name of this piece. It would most likely either be (1) something from a general studio library, selected by the show's music editor to fit these scenes, or (2) something written specifically for Friends by the show's musician, Michael Skloff.
CHARGE! Ditmars, Ivan (m); Heidt, Horace and Gerald Bowne (w). Artist copy. Van Nuys, CA: Amco Music Co., 1959. (M1978.S714D) Ep134857
and
DODGERS CHARGE 1960. Bowne-Ditmar-Heidt (m & w). Van Nuys, CA: AMCO, Inc., 1960. (M1978.S713D) Ep140106.
[Note: Photograph of the 1959 World Champion Dodgers on the cover.]
When Ross was singing to his unborn child, he was singing his own version of Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys, by The Monkeys.
The song which played while Chandler had photos with Janice and while Phoebe said goodbye to Scientist Guy was Into Your Arms by Lemonheads.
I haven't been able to identify the other song at the party. I you can identify one I've missed, let me know.
To expand somewhat on that: On the Season 2 DVD release, if you listen to the audio commentary for the episode following 2.07 (2.08 TOW the List), this question gets partially answered. In 2.08, when Ross requests a song on the radio for Rachel, it's "With or Without You," by U2. In the audio commentary, Kevin Bright (executive producer) says that for the previous episode (2.07), for Ross and Rachel's coffee house kiss, he had wanted to use the U2 song, but they didn't have time to secure the rights to do that, so they used a "sound-alike" piece of music. But he didn't want to let go of the idea of using the U2 song, so he arranged to use the real thing in 2.08.
The same studio library clip was used in other Friends episodes, played as one scene changes to another. For example, it is used during the opening of episode 316, The One The Morning After, during the "Previously, on Friends" recap of the prior episode.
Here are the lyrics to With or Without You:
See the stone set in your eyes
Feel the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait....without you
With or without you
With or without you
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing left to win
And nothing else to lose
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
Just before and while Ross danced with Susan, it was Strangers in the Night, performed by Frank Sinatra.
During the goodbye scene at the limo, it was a slow, thoughtful version of the chorus of "I'll be there for you," (Yes, the Friends theme song).
Here are the lyrics:
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
Chorus:
I don't wanna fall in love
No I don't wanna fall in love
with you
What a wicked game you played to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say you never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do to make me dream of you
Chorus:
And I don't wanna fall in love
No I don't wanna fall in love
with you
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you
Chorus:
No I don't wanna fall in love
No I don't wanna fall in love
Nobody else loves no one
Shoe Box, by Barenaked Ladies
Sexuality, by K.D. Lang
Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell (Traffic Jam Mix)
It's a Free World Baby, R.E.M.
Good Intentions, Toad the Wet Sprocket
Stain Yer Blood, Paul Westerberg
Also: When Chandler hugged Rachel in the hallway, there was a slow instrumental version of the chorus of the Friends theme, "I'll be there for you" playing. It sounded like it was done on electric piano.
Early in the reception, "The Girl from Ipanema" was played. Later, Rachel sang, "Copa Cabana." Afterwards, Someone To Watch Over Me was performed. You can find it on Frank Sinatra's album, "Classic Sinatra: His Great Performances 1953-1960."
Here are the lyrics:
It's the time of the season when love runs high
In this time, give it to me easy
And let me try with pleasured hands
To take you in the sun to promised lands
To show you every one
It's the time of the season for loving
What's your name?
Who's your daddy?
Is he rich like me?
Has he taken any time
To show you what you need to live?
Tell it to me slowly
Tell you what I really want to know
It's the time of the season for loving
(repeat last stanza)
According to Wikipedia.org:
----------
[Happy Days] closing theme song ... was a fragment from "Happy Days," whose music was composed by Charles Fox and whose lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel. According to SAG, this version was performed by Jimmy Haas on lead vocals, Ron Hicklin of the Ron Hicklin Singers, Stan Farber, Jerry Whitman, and Gary Garrett on backing vocals, and studio musicians.
----------
And of course, this shouldn't be confused with the original opening theme song of Happy Days, which in early seasons was "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets. (Though in later seasons, a longer version of "Happy Days" replaced "Rock Around the Clock" as the opening theme.)
After they traded players, so it was girls against guys, and Phoebe was asking how they're going to beat the boys, the music was Misirlou, by Dick Dale and His Deltones.
During the slow-motion final play, the music used was The Natural, by Randy Newman, from the movie of the same name.
The song during Joey's party is "Havin' a Party" by Nu Flavor. (Sorry, it's not "She's a Bad Mama Jama" by Carl Carlton, which was speculated earlier.)
For the lyrics, see item 2.08.
After that song, the next was The Impression That I Get, by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. This started about the time that Phoebe was talking to Joey about how he was making his sandwich, and then Rachel game in, in her black dress.
After the commercial break, when Phoebe and Joey were sitting in armchairs talking about meat, and then Rachel came in wearing her cheerleader outfit, the music playing was 6th Avenue Heartache, by The Wallflowers.
The neighborly "Singing Man" presumably made up the words himself. AKA the show's writers probably wrote the lyrics:
Morning's here!
The morning's here!
Sunshine is here!
The sky is clear!
The morning's here!
Get into gear!
Breakfast is near!
The dark of night has disappeared!
Trivia: The writers of the show have mentioned Chuck Mangione in another episode. In The One At The Beach, Phoebe finds a photo on her birth-mother's fridge that she's convinced it her father. However, it turns out to be a photo of Chuck, to whom her birth-mother recently sold a house.
Lyrics:
Last night, I waved goodbye, now it seems years
I'm back in the city, where nothin' is clear
But thoughts of me, holdin' you, bringin' us near
CHORUS
And tell me
When will our eyes meet?
When can I touch you?
When will this strong yearnin' end?
And when will I hold you again?
Time in New England, took me away
Long rocky beaches and you by the bay
We started a story whose end must now wait
CHORUS
I feel the change comin', I feel the wind blow
I feel brave and daring!, I feel my blood flow, oh
With you I could bring out all the love that I have
With you there's a heaven, so earth ain't so bad
CHORUS
On the North American DVD release, a different scene was used: One where Monica tells Emily that her engagement ring spent 2 days in a duck's colon.
Several people have asked me what song was used next, while Chandler and Joey toured on the double-decker bus. Unfortunately, that footage was not included in the original US broadcast of this episode, so I don't have that scene. But others have confirmed that it is Roger Miller's England Swings.
As for the music used at the wedding itself: A band called The Hormones played live for this scene. While most of the wedding party walked down the aisle, their song "Tired Old Souls" was performed. One of the members of the band (Marc Carroll) has put out a solo album which contains this music. You can find a short clip at http://www.marccarroll.com/content/albums.htm.
Buy it:
All Wrongs Reversed
After "Tired Old Souls," they switch to their own arrangement of the traditional wedding march, commonly known as, "Here Comes the Bride."
After that, when Ross was trying to get people (especially Joey) to dance, the music was "Desafinado," composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, lyrics (not used in this version) by Newton Mendonça.
Click the album cover buy:
Thanks Manos!
(Semisonic also has one of their other songs on the Friends Again Soundtrack album.)
Here are the lyrics to Making a Plan (words and music by Dan Wilson):
Out in the land where my dreams flew around
I bulldozed the trees and set my feet on the ground
Put a day in and a week would come out
I didn't have time for doubt
Then when the whole thing went down the drain
I learned that the future don't always obey
Now I'm afraid to get back in the pool
Somehow I'd feel like a fool
Making a Plan
Making a Plan
High in the morning with climbing to do
High in the turrets I'm thinking of you
Everybody says it's all for the best
Somehow I wouldn't have guessed
Little dominions turn into dust
Schemes blow away on a breeze of mistrust
I'm not feeling sorry for little ol' me
But I'm not about to be
Making a Plan
Making a Plan
Stop, you work your way up til you drop
Down down until your ears go pop
What were we gonna do at the top?
I forgot
Now I can sit and watch the time fly
And I'll feel better when time has gone by
And I'll never again be blindsided by fate
The future will have to wait
I only have time for today
As long as I can delay
Making a Plan
A Plan
Making a Plan
A Plan
When Ross and Phoebe where at Howard's party, the song (which kept repeating "You're going to miss me, miss me, when I'm gone") was Angel and the Jerk, by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Penelope Huston. This one can be found on the "Friends Again" soundtrack.
After Phoebe and Ross left the party and were back in Ross's apartment, the music was "Casey Jones," by the Grateful Dead.
The second was Jammin' by Bob Marley.
Here are the lyrics:
On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la ...
After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
After three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la ...
After nine days I let the horse run free
'Cause the desert had turned to sea
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
there was sand and hills and rings
The ocean is a desert with it's life underground
And a perfect disguise above
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
But the humans will give no love
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la ...
In the "New Year's Rockin' Eve" scenes, there were 3 songs used:And the song played when Joey and Janine finally got to kiss was a song called "Next Year," by Kevin Henry. The portion of "Next Year" that was used in the scene is borrowed from the traditional New Year's song, "Auld Lang Syne."
-----------
One of the scenes:
In the initial airing and on DVD, both parts of the 2-part episode were presented as one hour-long episode with credits only after part 2. In syndication (reruns), where they only do one 30-minute episode at a time, there are credits at the end of part 1, and this scene was used during those credits. The music here contains lyrics that seem to be saying, "Do the Saturday night, if the beat's alright."
Thanks goes to Esen for leading me to the answer to this question, below.
WARNING: While searching for information about this song, I found many links to lyrics and mp3 sites. Visiting some of them brought up multiple annoying pop up windows and suggestions that I clean my PC, and other things that I typically associate with suspicious activity and possible malware. So I'd recommend you be very careful about searching for this stuff. You may only want to click on links you trust like youtube, etc.
Anyway, I have found 2 versions of this song online. It seems to be called "Do the Saturday Night." The one which sounds like an exact match for what was used in Friends seems to be attributed to a group called "The Stalkers." I'm not 100% sure that that information is legitimate, but I've found some mp3 clips online which are a confirmed match for the music in this Monica-dance-scene.
I also note that there is an Australian band also known as "The Stalkers," which has a song called "Saturday Night," which is totally different.
The other version I find of "Do the Saturday Night" is identified as a cover version (not the original), and is by the group "Lazybox". This one is easier to find on reliable sites like YouTube. It is the same song, but not the same version as was used in Friends.
-----------
The other place you can find this scene:
This was also shown during the Friend bloopers and outtakes special that aired in the US in February, 2001, hosted by Conan O'Brien. But in that instance, a different song was used: Shake Your Groove Thing, by "Peaches and Herb."
Click the album cover to buy it:
Later, Funny Valentive was played (while Janice sung along).
Click the album cover to buy it.
It later commercials that contained this scene, the music playing was He is Everything You Want, by Veritcal Horizon.
Chandler's Dad performed 2 songs: I Feel Pretty, from the musical "West Side Story," and "It's Raining Men," which, I'm told, was originally recorded by The Weathergirls.
In the scene where Rachel was driving the Porsche and got pulled over by a cop, it was Ride Wit Me, by Nelly, also featuring City Spud.
Monica's walk down the aisle was to an instrumental version of My Love, originally by Paul McCartney and Wings.
After the ceremony finished, during the last few shots while Chandler and Monica discussed "the baby," it seems to be an instrumental of Everlong, by The Foo Fighters. Both the rhythm and the melody used in the show matches the part of Everlong where the lyrics say, "If everything could ever feel this way forever, If anything could ever be this good again."
The exact instrumentals used in the show may not be available. However, the instrumental of My Love is similar
to an arrangement on the album, "Working Classical."
And there is a string quartet version of the Foo Fighters' "Everlong"
on an album called "String Quartet Tribute to Foo Fighters," through Vitamin Records.
Another promo was for the whole NBC comedy line-up, and the song included the lyrics "Come along now, come along with me." This one is Come Along by Titiyo.
The third promo just had instrumental music, and I didn't recognize it.
"What Reason" by Deckard was used as the party music at the beginning of the episode. Monica and Rachel discuss an old boyfriend while making cocktails. Rachel then opens a shoe box she thinks is a present, which actually contains Phoebe's rat babies.
I don't know what music was used after Ross saw Rachel kissing Gavin.
Thanks to the people who emailed that information to me
During Joey's section, The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" was used.
For Phoebe, it was Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill."
For Monica and Chandler:
- An as-yet-unidentified instrumental. (Someone suggested this was the Forrest Gump Theme. I checked on that...
it's similar, but not an actual match.)
- "Escape" by Enrique Iglesias.
- Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden."
For Ross and Rachel:
- Finished off the "Secret Garden" clip.
- "I'm With You," by Avril Lavigne.
For "The Twist:"
- More of "I'm With You," by Avril Lavigne.
And "This Year:"
"The Power of Goodbye" by Madonna.
Someone told me that in another Season 10 promo, "Waiting for You" by Seal was used. I didn't catch that promo, so I can't confirm or deny that.
There were several background songs that I didn't necessarily recognize (like at Ross and Chandler's alumni gathering) but plenty of others that were easily recognizable:
The first song that Danny Devito used for his striptease was Soft Cell's "Tainted Love." That song is originally by Gloria Jones in 1964 but made famous by Soft Cell in 1981. About a dozen other artists have done covers as well.
The second song used by the stipper was the 1978 song "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," by Sylvester.
The first party scene at Ross and Chandler's college featured the 80's hit, "Der Kommisar," recorded in the US in 1982 by After the Fire. The song was originally written and performed that same year by the Austrian singer, Falco.
The next song used at the 1987 party was "Funkytown," by Lipps, Inc.
The song while Fat Monica danced during the end credits (while still at the 1987 college party) was "Disco Inferno," by The Trammps.
The second one was the Beatles', "Here, There, and Everywhere."
Someone also told me that Fleetwood Mac's "Goodbye Baby" was used in a promo. The vocals of that song are performed by Stevie Nicks.
What song plays in the promo found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PyC_p7nb_4?
It a song called She's by Ryan Cabrera.
The clip show opened with "Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression Pt 2" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. "Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends. We're so glad you could attend, Come Inside, Come Inside."
The "Fun & Games" section opened with "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2" by Gary Glitter. Then, during the football sequence, they used "Get Ready For This," by 2 Unlimited. Later, when Ross played the bag-pipes, he was attempting to play "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.
Phoebe's section opened with an upbeat song with female vocals, but I couldn't identify it. Does anyone know this one?
For Chandler, the song was "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind.
"The Boys" featured "The Rockafeller Skank," by Fatboy Slim. That was also used at Ross's party in episode 5.15, The One With the Girl Who Hits Joey.
Monica's sequence gave us "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," by The Spin Doctors. Then when she and Ross were dancing their routine, the music was "Trouble With Boys," by Loreta.
Ross's montage used swing music, a piece called, "Go Big Daddy," performed by Rick Krive. Available on the album, "Swing" (1999) (Thanks CP, for this information!).
"The Girls," showcased Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
Rachel's section opened with "There She Goes," this version performed by The LA's.
Joey's sequence used "Smooth" by Santana, featuring Rob Thomas.
"Friends and Lovers" began with "Wicked Game," by Chris Isaak. Later in that same section, "The Reason" by Hoobastank was used. Oddly, the Closed Captions for the episode incorrectly said it was "Times Like These" by Foo Fighters.
During the brief interviews with the cast about their final thoughts, the background music was a slow, thoughtful version of the Friends theme song, "I'll be There For You," without lyrics.
The final montage featured U2's "Walk On."
During the credits, the opening scene from The One With the Dozen Lasagnas (episode 12) was used, with the gang in the coffee house doing the theme from "The Odd Couple."
During the "Previously, on Friends" opening, when the previous episode's kiss between Ross and Rachel was shown, there was some nice instrumental music, guitar and piano. Does anyone know what that was?
Some people have asked what music was used when Rachel left Monica's apartment to go to the airport. But there was no music played at that point.
Part 2
When Ross was at JFK airport and found out that Rachel was a Newark airport, the guitar music was "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam. This music continued while the scene changed to Newark airport and showed Rachel boarding at her gate.
Some people have asked what music was used when Ross (now at Newark airport) asked Rachel to stay, but she leaves anyway. There was no music played at that point. I've been asked about this multiple times, so let me just say that I've checked 4 versions of the episode: The recording I made of the original US broadcast; the individual DVD release of the broadcast version of the finale; the extended version of the finale, also on the individual DVD release; and the finale as it exists in the season 10 boxed set. There is no music playing in that scene in any of those versions.
When Rachel came back from the airport and Ross made the comment to himself, "Don't make jokes now," followed by another kiss, the music used was the same studio library music that was used when Ross and Rachel had their first meaningful kiss at the end of episode 2.07.
The guitar music at the end of the show, when everyone left Monica's apartment to get coffee, was "Embryonic Journey" by Jefferson Airplane.
Thanks go to Kara for helping me get the name right, and also pointing out Gregg's web site, where you can listen to the music! Go to http://greggbruza.com, then click on the graphic, "Pick Yourself a Song." When the player comes up, click on "Pick Yourself a Song" on the right side, and then you'll see a list of songs on that album. "I Wanna Stay," is the fifth one down.
