'Make New Friends, but Keep the Old'

By Claire Cordonnier

Make new friends, but keep the old.

One is silver; the other is gold.

A circle is round; it has no end.

That’s how long I will be your friend.

This song, “Make New Friends,” is sung by young girl scouts all over the country. That was certainly my experience. The song is about the importance of friendship and being there for others. The lyrics in the first stanza remind listeners not to neglect their old friendships, calling new friends “silver” and old ones “gold.” Ironically, the song's young audience may not be old enough yet to meaningfully distinguish “new” from “old” friends, though surely they will grow up to find that the message of this song endures.

Making new friends does not isolate one from old friends if one takes steps to maintain and nurture their pre-existing friendships, which can really become as valuable as “gold.” This is because keeping a friendship for a long time often requires both parties to face the challenges that inevitably arise in long-term relationships.

Cancel culture manifests itself in one's personal relationships in that it can encourage one to eliminate others from their own life upon the first signs of the other person being problematic. While it is good to be aware of warning signs in a relationship, how far is too far? Is it possible that the cancel-culture mindset prevents people from persevering long enough in relationships for them to develop into “gold?”

The song “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers describes the loneliness experienced by Anthony Kiedis, the band's frontman, and the connection he felt to Los Angeles:

Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner

Sometimes I feel like my only friend

Is the city I live in, The City of Angels

Lonely as I am, together we cry

Its lyrics also nod at the common experience of loneliness endured by many city-goers. It's a cliche to come to the city to pursue a new life. But many people do, and in doing so, leave behind all of their own friends and end up feeling lonely. They pass by the city’s picturesque locations, ice cream parlors, and cafes - all of which would be wonderful to enjoy with friends - with an ironic weight of sadness in their throats.

But the city is also full of gift shops containing postcards to send back home, and beautiful parks to walk through, with one ear inclined toward an old friend on the phone. So why not beat the loneliness stereotypes by developing “golden” friendships?

Claire Cordonnier is a spring 2025 intern for National Review Institute. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at New York University, and plans to major in politics and journalism. Before beginning her studies at NYU, Claire spent a gap semester interning for non-profit organizations–The Borgen Project and the Childhood Cancer Society–and working as a barista in a local coffee shop.