Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - You Can't Make Old Friends
"You Can't Make Old Friends" is a poignant country ballad recorded by country music legends Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Released on September 3, 2013, as the lead single and title track of Rogers’ 27th studio album, the song was written by Ryan Hanna King, Caitlyn Smith, and Don Schlitz—the latter of whom notably penned Rogers' 1978 signature hit, "The Gambler". The song serves as a profound, bittersweet reflection on lifelong loyalty, enduring friendship, and the irreplaceable nature of a bond forged over multiple decades. Musically, it layers their iconic, weathered vocals over a gentle arrangement of piano, acoustic guitar, and swelling strings. The track later found a home on Parton's 2014 solo album, Blue Smoke, and went on to earn the duo a 2014 Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, marking their third career Grammy nomination together.
The history of the track is deeply intertwined with the actual 30-year friendship shared by Rogers and Parton, serving as the thematic bookend to their legendary 1983 multi-genre hit, "Islands in the Stream". When the songwriters pitched the track, Rogers immediately recognized it as the ultimate expression of his relationship with Parton, stating that out of everyone in the music business, she was his true best friend. The accompanying music video, which premiered on Good Morning America in September 2013, intersperses intimate studio footage with the two icons sitting together, reminiscing about their shared history and undeniable artistic chemistry. The narrative weight of the song grew exponentially when they performed it live for the final time during the 2017 "All In For The Gambler" farewell concert. Following Rogers' passing in 2020, Parton publicly reflected on the lyrics, noting how painful yet profoundly beautiful it had become to sing the track without him, cementing "You Can't Make Old Friends" as a timeless tribute to one of country music's most beloved partnerships.
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton You Can't Make Old Friends Lyrics
What will I do when you are gone?
Who's gonna tell me the truth?
Who's gonna finish the stories I start
The way you always do?
When somebody knocks at the door
Someone new walks in
I will smile and shake their hands
But you can't make old friends
You can't make old friends
Can't make old friends
It was you and me, since way back when
But you can't make old friends
How will I sing when you are gone?
'Cause it won't sound the same
Who will join in on those harmony parts
When I call your name?
You can't make old friends
Can't make old friends
It was you and me, since way back when
But you can't make old friends
When saint peter opens the gate
And you come walking in
I will be there just waiting for you
'Cause you can't make old friends
You can't make old friends
When I am out on the stage all alone
And I hear the music begin
We all know the show must go on
But you can't make old friends
You can't make old friends
Can't make old friends
And you and me, will be young again
You can't make old friends
You and me, will be together again
'Cause we both know, we will still be old friends
You can't make old friends