When trouble comes your soul to try,
You love the friend who just "stands by."
Perhaps there's nothing he can do --
The thing is strictly up to you;

For there are troubles all your own,
And paths the soul must tread alone;
Times when love cannot smooth the road
Nor friendship lift the heavy load,

But just to know you have a friend
who will "stand by" until the end,
whose sympathy through all endures,
Whose warm handclasp is always yours--

It helps, someway to pull you through,
Although there's nothing he can do.
and so with frevent heart you cry,
"God bless the friend who just 'stands by'!"

Written by B.Y Williams