Day 3 - Michael W. Smith (ft. Amy Grant) - Friends

3. Michael W. Smith (ft. Amy Grant) - Friends
From the album Michael W Smith Project (Reunion Records, 1983)

Smith got his professional music start in 1981 when he signed as a writer with Meadowgreen Music. There, he wrote several Contemporary Christian hits for artists such as Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. Some of these popular worship songs can now be found in modern church hymnals. The following year, Smith played keybords on Amy Grant's Age to Age album and performed in the band on her supporting tour. This led to him becoming Grant's opening act and, in 1983, he recorded and produced his debut album, Michael W Smith Project.

Michael wrote the music for Friends and his wife, Debbie, wrote the lyrics originally as a gift for a church friend who was moving away. "The simple chorus with it's hopeful, almost child-like lyric has been part of an entire generation's memory making moments. It has been responsible for countless lumps in countless throats at weddings, graduations, funerals, birthdays, church camps, anniversaries and youth groups for almost 30 years." (From the book 100 Greatest Christian Songs)

The album was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Gospel Album but, surprisingly, the song never peaked higher than #7 on the Christian music Charts. Over the years, however it has become the most played Christian song of all time.

Here is the original album version of the song.