He was a friend of mine

Words and music by BOB DYLAN
From the album THE BOOTLEG SERIES
VOLUMES 1-3 - LIVE AND UNRELEASED (1991)
and THE VERY BEST OF THE BYRDS (1997)

The first verse of this song was performed by Street Voices at the memorial service held for the 17 members of the street community who had died in the last year, which was held at the Leper Chapel in Cambridge on Friday 20th June. Depending on how you quantify and define the city's street community, this represents a mortality rate of 3.7-8.5%. I know of no other estate of life wherein such an attrition rate would not cause an immediate national crisis.

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.