Packing up the dreams God planted In the fertile soil of you I can't believe the hopes He's granted Means a chapter of your life is through But 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 And with the faith and love God's given Springing from the hope we know We will pray the joy you live in Is the strength that now you show But we'll keep you close as always It won't even seem you've gone (it won't seem you're gone) 'Cause our hearts in big and small ways Will keep the love that keeps us strong Yeah, yeah 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 (friends are friends forever) If the Lord's the Lord of them (for all of them) And a friend will not say never (a friend will not say never) 'Cause the welcome will not end (ooh, ooh) 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 To live as friends 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 No, a lifetime's not too long To live as friends