Packing up the dreams, God planted In the fertile soil of you I can't believe the hopes He's granted Means a chapter in your life is through We'll keep you close as always It won't even seem you've gone 'Cause our hearts in big and small ways Will keep the love that keeps us strong And friends are friends forever If the Lord's the Lord of them And a friend will not say, "Never" 'Cause the welcome will not end Though it's hard to let you go In the Father's hands, we know That a lifetime's not too long To live as friends With the faith and love, God's given, yeah Oh springing from the hope we know We will pray the joy you'll live in Is the strength that now you show, yes But we'll keep you close (so close, so close) as always It won't even seem you've gone (you are gone) 'Cause our hearts, in big an' small ways Will keep the love that keeps us strong (so strong, so strong) And friends are friends forever If the Lord's the Lord of them And a friend will not say, "Never" 'Cause the welcome will not end Though it's hard to let you go In the Father's hands, we know, yeah That a lifetime's not too long To live as friends Oh, to live as friends And friends are friends forever If the Lord's the Lord of them And a friend will not say, "Never" Cause the welcome will not end Though it's hard to let you go In the Father's hands we know That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends And friends are friends forever A lifetime's not too long If the Lord's the Lord of them And friends are friends forever Never say, never say, "Never" If the Lord's the Lord of them In the Father's hands we know Though it's hard to let you go A lifetime's not too long To live as friends