: The chorus repeatedly thanks the "friend" for their support and for the "harvest" (success) they shared together.
: Lines like "Even though you are no longer with me, you are always by my side" took on a double meaning for the Hazes family. Bedankt mijn vriend van Andre Hazes en Andre Hazes junior
: The version featured André Hazes Jr. (then only 13 years old) singing alongside his late father’s original vocals. : The chorus repeatedly thanks the "friend" for
Following the death of André Hazes sr. in 2004, the song was reimagined for the posthumous tribute album Samen met Dré (2007). (then only 13 years old) singing alongside his
André Hazes originally wrote and recorded the song in 1988 for the album Liefde, leven, geven . It was a deeply personal ode to his producer and best friend, , who had died in a car accident that same year. The lyrics express profound gratitude for a friendship that "made me what I am" and lament a life cut far too short. The 2007 Revival: Father and Son
: This version became a massive hit in the Netherlands, entering the charts in October 2007 and reaching #1 . It remained in the Top 20 for 13 weeks.
The song (Thank You My Friend) carries a bittersweet legacy that connects a tragic loss in the 1980s with a father-son tribute decades later. The Origin: A Loss in 1988