you have always been there for me
smiling your warm wonderful smiles
seeing the good in me  when i couldn't
for that and more, my friends, i thank you

your deep belief in me was legendary
and if truth be told, it was amazing
you hung onto my every single word
for that and more, my friends, i thank you

my dreams were always your dreams too
and you were never ever in any doubt
that one day the artist in me would shine
for that and more, my friends, i thank you

these many years later with many of us gone
some of you think i can, even now, still make it
your faith in me is really and truly amazing
for that and more, my friends, i thank you

day in and day out i cry before life and fortune
i beseech those who dispense these things
to please just give me a break before it's too late
but for everything, my friends, i thank you

i'm writing this one big book for us all
a book to justify all the waiting and all the faith
a book to make other books pale into oblivion
and for keeping the dream alive, my friends, i thank you