What a Friend

"What a Friend" is a song performed by Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist Matt Maher. The song was released as the second single from his 2017 album Echoes on September 15, 2017.^[4] The song peaked at No. 10 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his seventh Top 10 single from that chart. It lasted 26 weeks on the overall chart.^[5] The song is played in an E major key, and 110 beats per minute.^[6]

"What a Friend"
Single by Matt Maher
from the album Echoes
Released	September 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)[1]
Recorded	2017
Genre	Worship contemporary Christian music
Length	3:17[2]
Label	Essential
Songwriter(s)	Matt Maher Matthew Hein Adam Palmer Abbie Parker[3]
Producer(s)	Ed Kerr Dan Galbraith
Matt Maher singles chronology
"Your Love Defends Me" (2017) "What a Friend" (2017) "Born on That Day" (2018)
Music video
"What a Friend" on YouTube

Background

"What a Friend" was released on September 15, 2017, as the second single from his fifth studio album Echoes.^[7] The song samples the Christian hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven, who wrote it in 1855 to comfort his mother in Iceland while he was living in Canada.^[8] Maher shows God’s faithfulness even in the midst of personal sorrow and devastation. On the song, Maher sings about the joy of our friendship with the Saviour.^[9] Aleteia described the song as "switching gears from quiet worship to bouncing folk-rock, with a country-pop hook, where the piece is infused with a jubilant energy, which is aided by a perfectly employed gospel-ish choir."^[10]

Music video

A lyric video was released on February 23, 2018.^[11] A live version of the song was released on June 15, 2018, featuring Christian music singer Jason Crabb.^[12][13]

Track listing

CD release^[14]

1. "What a Friend" – 3:17
2. "What a Friend (Lead Sheet (Medium Key)" – 3:17
3. "What a Friend (Vocal Demonstration)" – 3:4
4. "What a Friend (High Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
5. "What a Friend (High Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14
6. "What a Friend (Medium Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
7. "What a Friend (Medium Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14
8. "What a Friend (Low Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
9. "What a Friend (Low Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018) Peak position US Christian AC (Billboard)[15] 3 US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[16] 2 US Hot Christian Songs (Billboard)[17] 10 US Christian AC Indicator (Billboard)[18] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Peak position US Weekend Top 20[19] 14 US Christian AC (Billboard)[20] 10 US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[21] 14 US Christian Songs (Billboard)[22] 29