Frederic Edward Weatherly: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Friend o' Mine

Frederic Edward Weatherly

“Friend o' Mine” as printed in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918).

Frederic Edward Weatherly: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1918 · historical text
Public domainSoldier songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

When you are happy, friend o' mine,

And all your skies are blue,

Tell me your luck, your fortune fine,

And let me laugh with you.

Tell me the hopes that spur you on,

The deeds you mean to do,

The gold you've struck, the fame you've won,

And let me joy—with you!

Verse 2

When you are sad and heart a-cold,

And all your skies are dark,

Tell me the dreams that mocked your hold,

The shafts that missed the mark.

Am I not yours for weal or woe?

How else can friends prove true?

Tell me what breaks and brings you low,

And let me stand—with you!

Verse 3

So, when the night falls tremulous,

When the last lamp burns low,

And one of us or both of us

The long, lone road must go,—

Look with your dear old eyes in mine,

Give me a handshake true

Whatever fate our soul await

Let me be there—with you!

Credits

Written by Frederic Edward Weatherly

Words by Frederic Edward Weatherly. Historical text published in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918), “Friend o' Mine”

The 1918 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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