Kenny Roger’s Recorded “You Can’t Make Old Friends” with Dolly Parton

Friendship is probably one of the best relationships that exist. You can form a friendship with anyone. Whether it is your brother, sister, your spouse, or mother, forming friendship is crucial for making relationships work. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton began their friendship when they first collaborated in 1983. The first song they recorded was “Islands in the Stream,” which became their first number one song on the chart. Their collaboration led to a wonderful friendship.

After 23 years

Parton and Rogers last collaborated in 1990. Parton was featured in Rogers’ song “Love is Strange.” It is one of the singles in Rogers same-titled album.

In 2013, Rogers invited Parton to record the song “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”  It was written by Don Schlitz, Caitlyn Smith, and Ryan Hanna King. They have made it reach number fifty-seven on the Billboard chart. In addition, Kenny and Dolly were nominated for the Grammy Award in 2014. “You Can’t Make Old Friends” is one of the tracks on Kenny Rogers’ album You Can’t Make Old Friends.

“You Can’t Make Old Friends”

It is true that you cannot make old friends. You can meet someone and build a friendship that will last a lifetime. However, old friends cannot be replaced. They know you better. The memories you have with them cannot be replaced by others. Therefore, friends should be treasured. In Kenny Roger’s song, the narrator worries about what will happen when his old friend is gone. He knows that he cannot find someone as great as his friend.

What will I do when you are gone?
Who’s gonna tell me the truth?
Who’s gonna finish the stories I start,
The way you always do?

This song seems to fit Kenny and Dolly because they have known each other for a long time. They worked together and formed a wonderful friendship. Kenny considered this to be an emotional song, one in which he and Dolly recorded.

“It’s very poignantly sad…I think. I love the song, but it deals very close to reality…” -Billboard

Here is Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s last song together.