My good friend and Microsoft MVP buddy, Eriq Neale, passed away last night after a courageous battle with cancer. Four years ago, at a Microsoft SBS training session, Eriq pulled out his guitar and sang this song: Friends O’ Mine.

The original lyrics are posted below. I took a video of him singing it, changing some of the words to the song.

“Friends O’ Mine”
Well it was ugly but we made it this far
Some have gone but I forget who they are
Now the hangovers are worse but we get through them fine
Sleeping late but were not lazy
Getting older but were still crazy
I’m so glad that I have these friends o mine

It started out at a coffee shop in a most unlikely town
And there were casualties but we made it out anyhow
We stuck together through the good and bad times
Pulp Fiction, Blazing Saddles, and Fast Times
I’m so glad that I have these friends o mine

And jobs girls and obstacles did all but break us down
Night clubs and broken vans in every major town
And I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine
Like Johnny Cash said “I walk the line”
And you can always count on me for one last beer

We saw the world and the world seemed smaller
Were getting wider but not getting no taller
I know we’ve grown up just a little lot of time
Were sleeping late but were not lazy
Were getting older but were still crazy
I’m so glad that I have these friends o mine

So glad that I have these friends o mine
So glad that I have these friends o mine