The song was a carefully crafted component of the Friends phenomenon masterminded by the show's creators. "I grew up on The Monkees and The Beatles and was very influenced by that stuff for 'I'll Be There For You'," said Michael Skloff, one of the songs composers and husband of producer Marta Kauffman. The content of the song lyrics was shaped by the show's writer-creators Kauffman and David Crane and music man Kevin S. Bright brought in the brilliant pop lyricist Allee Willis and the talented pop rock duo The Rembrandts.
The song did what all good theme songs are supposed to do - set up the dynamic of the show. The original version of the song was little more than a riff - only 45 seconds long - but shortly into the show's run it was found that disc jockeys all around the country were taping the song off television and playing it on the air. Clearly the public was ready for more and this led to its expansion to a full-length version with additional lyrics by Marta Kauffman and David Crane.

THE LYRICS

So no one told you life was gonna be this way [four claps]
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but
CHORUS
I'll be there for you 
(When the rain starts to pour) 
I'll be there for you 
(Like I've been there before) 
I'll be there for you 
('Cause you're there for me too) 
 You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight 
You've burned your breakfast so far, things are going great 
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these 
But she didn't tell when the world has brought you down to your knees 
CHORUS 
No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me 
Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me 
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with 
Someone I'll always laugh with 
Even at my worst, I'm best with you 
Yeah! 
It's like you're always stuck in second gear 
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but . . .
CHORUS

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