Co-writer Melissa Manchester on the genesis of this song:
Writing with Kenny was great. It came out of the oddity of the times — he and I kept running into each other at televised award shows, which were fairly new at the time. We were frequently paired up to present awards together. We would meet...
[Intro]
(Scatting)
[Verse 1: Kenny Loggins]
Whenever I call you "friend"
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Ever and ever
[Verse 2: Both]
I see myself within your eyes
And that's all I need to show me why
Everything I do always takes me home to you
Ever and ever
[Pre-Chorus: Kenny Loggins, Stevie Nicks]
Now I know my life has given me more than memories
Day by day
We can see
In every moment there's a reason to carry on
[Chorus: Both]
Sweet love's showing us a heavenly light
I've never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we'll be doing it
[Chorus: Kenny Loggins, Both]
Sweet love's showing us a heavenly light
I've never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we'll be doing it right
[Verse 3: Stevie Nicks]
Whenever I call you "friend"
I believe I've come to understand
Everywhere we are
You and I were meant to be
Forever and ever
[Verse 4: Kenny Loggins, Both]
I think about the times to come
Knowing I will be the lucky one
And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend
[Chorus: Kenny Loggins, Both]
Sweet love's showing us a heavenly light
Never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we'll be doing it
[Saxophone breakdown]
[Pre-Chorus: Kenny Loggins, Stevie Nicks]
Now I know my life has given me more than memories
Day by day
We can see
In every moment there's a reason to carry on
[Chorus: Kenny Loggins, Stevie Nicks, Both]
Sweet love's showing us a heavenly light
Never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we'll be doing it, doing it
Sweet love's showing us a heavenly light
I've never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we'll be doing it, doing it, doing it
[Outro: Kenny Loggins, Stevie Nicks]
Sweet love
Sweet love, yea
You're the glowing light in my life (sweet love)
Source of pride in my life (sweet love)
Everything I do takes me back to you
Whenever I call you "friend"
Whenever I Call You “Friend” was written by Melissa Manchester & Kenny Loggins.
Whenever I Call You “Friend” was produced by Bob James.
Stevie Nicks in a 1982 interview with High Times magazine:
HIGH TIMES: You did a duet with Kenny Loggins, “Whenever I Call You Friend.”
That was a discipline thing. I call him Slave-Driver Loggins. He cracked the whip on me for two days to get that particular performance. And I was downright angr...