Story Behind The Song
Sometimes, a song is born from both heartbreak and healing.
Just one month after my mom passed away, I received news that a dear friend from YMCA Camp Kitchikewana where I was music director, had also passed. I was still deep in grief when I learned that her husband had reached out to a mutual friend and shared that, before Kerry passed on, she had asked if I could sing at her celebration of life.
It wasn't an easy thing to say yes to. I was still raw, still processing my own loss. But after a few quiet days, I felt it in my heart: I would be honoured. As I thought about what song to sing, I found myself drifting back to those warm nights at Camp Kitchi, when we'd gather around the fire and sing:
"Fires burning, fires burning, draw near, draw near..."
That simple melody stayed with me, and it opened the door to this new song:
"Friends Never Say Goodbye."
This is a tribute to the friendships that shaped us, the stories we told, and the laughter that echoed through the trees. It's for anyone who's ever sat under the stars and felt the kind of connection that never really fades.
"It'll be alright...
See you 'round sometime."
"Friends Never Say Goodbye" is part of my upcoming album Redstone Passage, a collection of songs that reflect on memory, love, and the people who stay with us, even after they're gone.
If you're around a campfire now, listen to this one, and close your eyes for a minute. Let the memories come back. Let the love live on.
Song Description
It wasn't an easy thing to say yes to. I was still raw, still processing my own loss. But after a few quiet days, I felt it in my heart: I would be honoured. As I thought about what song to sing, I found myself drifting back to those warm nights at Camp Kitchi, when we'd gather around the fire and sing:
"Fires burning, fires burning, draw near, draw near..."
That simple melody stayed with me, and it opened the door to this new song:
"Friends Never Say Goodbye."
| Song Length |
4:09 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Pop - Easy Listening |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Duet Male/Female |
| Mood |
Welcoming, Pleasant |
Subject |
Hope |
| Similar Artists |
Pentatonix, Home Free |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
FRIENDS NEVER SAY GOODBYE
From Redstone Passage
Music and Lyrics by Joseph Vetro
© 2025 SOCAN/ASCAP
Verse 1
Fire flickers
Like the stars in the sky
Swear I heard you whisper
"It'll be alright
It'll be alright
See you 'round sometime"
Oh, no need to cry
Friends never say goodbye
Verse 2
Tales and adventures, music and rhyme
Mountains we faced, the fear left behind
"It'll be alright
See you 'round sometime"
Oh, no need to cry
Friends never say goodbye
Chorus
Fires burning, fires burning
Draw near, draw near
In the glowing, in the glowing
Come sing and be merry
Verse 3
Memories and photos, scattered about
We lived, laughed, loved,
Cried and shouted
"It'll be alright
See you 'round sometime"
Oh, no need to cry
Friends never say goodbye
Chorus
Fires burning, fires burning
Draw near, draw near
In the glowing, in the glowing
Come sing and be merry
Bridge
In every smile, in a silent sigh
You're the peace I find
When I close my eyes
Close my eyes
Verse 4
So take me back to your sunshine smile
Hold onto the moment
Just a little while
Hear you say, "It'll be alright"
Oh, no need to cry
Friends never say goodbye
Chorus
Fires burning, fires burning
Draw near, draw near
In the glowing, in the glowing
Come sing and be merry
Chorus
Fires burning, fires burning
Draw near, draw near
In the glowing, in the glowing
Come sing and be merry
Outro
In the glowing, in the glowing
Come sing and be merry