He was a friend of mine

Here are the lyrics to the song "He Was a Friend of Mine." This is the song that Serge referred to in his eulogy of Chris during last weekend's memorial. He mentioned that when Chris played it during the week he was at his mom's home over Christmas, his singing of it was so moving that his mother asked him to please stop.

One wonders what ties Chris had with the song. Now it's almost ironic that he's the friend we will all think of when hearing it. It is a traditional folk song, originally probably recorded by Bob Dylan, but also sung by The Byrds, Bobby Bare, the Grateful Dead, and Willie Nelson among others. It was also on the soundtrack for the movie "Brokeback Mountain." If you want to hear a beautiful version of it, Bob Dylan has one on his Bootleg Series, vol. 1-3.

He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord 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 never had enough money
To pay his room or board
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.