Why It Matters

Old friends make the best friends.  Last week marked one of those human milestones that children love to celebrate while people my age; well, not so much. Not that birthdays aren’t fun for old farts–they’re better than the alternative according to the cliche–but they’re a heck of a lot more fun when trampolines, go-karts and animatronic mice are involved.

What really made the day nice was hearing from a few old friends with whom I’ve sort of lost touch but not really. Some of these guys I’ve known since childhood, and if not for geography I’d like to think we’d still be hanging out–going to shows, taking long runs on Sundays, and telling each other lies. We may go years without talking, but when they prairie dog their heads up I always feel like we’re just picking up where we left off.

There’s something really nice about knowing that there are people out there to whom I’m not related that know as much about me as my family does. That thought might be frightening if I was foolish enough to run for office or some such, but since public office isn’t for me having a couple of guys around who know where the proverbial bodies are buried is pretty cool.

Anyway, songs about friends:

“Old Friend,” Rancid.

“Friends,” The Police.

“Friendship,” Tenacious D.

“Are Friends Electric?” Gary Numan/Tubeway Army.

“Best Friend,” The Beat/The English Beat.

“Dead End Friends,” Them Crooked Vultures.

“Everybody’s Friend,” Jane’s Addiction.

“Fine Art Of Friendship,” King’s X.

There you have it: Eight songs about friends for to enjoy whenever this world can get to me. Is that all I need? I’m listening.