NOTE: Not to be confused with the Mehran Ahari song.
After All These Years (formerly known as Got A Friend In You or Friend In Me) is a formerly unidentified hip-hop/rap song by German band The Phlow, released in 1995 on the album Phlowtation and as a single with three alternate versions and another song titled We Get You High.
Search History[]
The song was posted To WatZatSong on April 16th, 2020, by user Mumfti. They didn’t provide any information about the song, nor a longer snippet.
On August 17th, 2020, the OP came back and posted the nearly full song to Vocaroo. They still didn’t provide any information about the song.
On November 21st, 2021, the OP said the song was recorded in 1995, but they didn’t provide any information about where it came from.
On October 5th, 2022, the OP said the song was recorded off of a German radio station, they believed the station was most likely SWF3 or Regenbogen.
On February 14th, 2023, Discord user VCC015 discovered the song contains a sample of "I Love You" by A Taste Of Honey (1978).[1]
On February 27th, 2023, the OP posted the full cassette to Vocaroo. The OP stopped recording before the radio DJ could announce the song’s artist or title.
On June 6th. 2023, the song was identified by VCC015 as After All These Years (Radio Remix) by The Phlow, presumably after searching for songs by German hip hop groups.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Well it's been a long time and I spent a lotta time
Thinking about the way things used to be back then
The only thing that changed is that we're not together
Well, I'm still there and we love one another
Sarah and Dayna, remember way back when
When we touched the soul
Singing what we liked
Cause we loved one another
And that could never change
And we still have one another
So we sing together
[Chorus]
When you tell me it's alright
I can see the way you smile
Way you smile, way you smile
You’ve been crying all night long
Hey, it's so good to know
That I got a friend in you
And you got a friend in me
Friend in me, Friend in me
Yeah you got a friend in me
Hey, it's so good to know
That I got a friend in you
And you got a friend in me
Friend in me, Friend in me
Ain't it good to know you
[Verse 2]
I read your letter on the plane that day
And though I'm far away, I had you right there with me
Everything you said is on the money, money
We gotta start doing things soon, real soon
Mama and papa don't understand
Dreaming dreams when they work so hard
For the social standing
A little understanding
And it all comes true
Cause we got no time to lose
Things you do for me wanna do for you
Learning from the past
And you gotta live the new
I lost a father to a social crusade
Life serves you lemons and you make lemonade
And open up your window so I can serenade
My family and friends like my sister, Zakary
Don't feel sorry for mistakes in the past
If it's good, it's gonna last
[Chorus]
When you tell me it's alright
I can see the way you smile
Way you smile, way you smile
You’ve been crying all night long
Hey, it's so good to know
That I got a friend in you
And you got a friend in me
Friend in me, Friend in me
Yeah you got a friend in me
Hey, it's so good to know
That I got a friend in you
And you got a friend in me
Friend in me, Friend in me
Ain't it good to know now
[Verse 3]
Life gotcha down cause ya feeling kind of lonely
Doing it on your own and that's the best security
All you gotta do is reach the top that's what they said
Hit rock bottom tryna climb back up
Back up a moment, and think about the past
When you dress like that, now you got yourself a new style
Aint nothing changed when you lookin styled though
Can't deny the dreams, the way they work
You make it happen when you take like it is
Gotta keep on moving, your fate won't wait
You gotta recognize it you gotta live what you feel
You gotta do it how you like it
You never stop and nothing short of what you love
Be a fool in love
A one shot deal and it's like that
So get with it quick before they take control
Of another peace of dream and the system, the system
Breathe the wisdom
[Bridge]
Been down so long so rise up y'all
And give yourself a wave to the things you love
This little line of mine is gonna light the spliff
It's gonna change your mind, rewind
Remember back when we touched the soul
Singing what we likes cause we loved one another
And that could never change
And we still have one another
So we sing together
All together now
[Chorus]
When you tell me it's alright
I can see the way you smile
Way you smile, way you smile
You’ve been crying all night long
Hey, it's so good to know
That I got a friend in you
And you got a friend in me
Friend in me, Friend in me
Yeah you got a friend in me
Hey, it's so good to know
That I got a friend in you
And you got a friend in me
Friend in me, Friend in me
Ain't it good to know you
When you call me it's alright...
The Phlow[]
The Phlow was a conscious hip hop group from Germany.
The band consisted of Ahmed Séko Neblett, Bernd Kunz, and Michael Schwalbe.
In 1995, the band released their first and only album, Phlowtation, which included this song.
In 1995, the band released their first and only single, After All These Years, which included three remixes of this song and a song from their album.
- After All These Years (Original Mix)
- After All These Years (Friction Mix)
- We Get You High
- After All These Years (Alternative Mix)
- After All These Years (Radio Remix) [Long]
In 1995, this song was featured in the compilation album Bear Music Factory >>1.
In 1996, their song I Know (not to be confused with the songs by unknown and Gemma Van Eck) was featured on the compilation album Ambient Space Trip.
In 1997, their song Monkey Biz’ was featured on the compilation album MTV Raps Vol. 2.
Shortly after, the band disbanded, but Ahmed Séko Neblett is still active today.
Gallery[]
Other images[]
