"Old Friends Do"

                -- Adapted from an article written by RMMC Emeritus Member Charlie Donalson.

In 1981, many RMMC members attended the Sons of Apollo M.C.’s annual RUN called “Grand Canyon”.  This fine group from Phoenix, Arizona had a RUN that was BIG and well-attended from all over the Southwest.  Mostly, California and Texas Clubs found it festive to ride there, compete and party with their Arizona gay biker buddies.

The first year the RMMC attended the Grand Canyon Run it was at a KOA Campground smack dab in the center of Arizona. The next year, they moved the site much closer to the Grand Canyon, just outside of Flagstaff.  They held it there for years.  This site made it easy to ride to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in biker formation.  (What a sight to behold!)

This campground...(You’ll love this)...at a Boy Scout Campsite on “Lake Mary” Duh?  How appropriate!

Well, maybe they got this “Old Friends Do” song from a California M.C. but the first time the RMMC heard this tremendous tune which was played at the Sons of Apollo’s Closing Ceremonies, we adopted it and it became a GFR tradition. 

After making a good impression with the SOA, they became regulars at GFR! Riding up to GFR in-mass, they were thrilled to hear their song that now concludes GFR each and every year since 1982.  It was adopted by the Motorcycle Men of New Mexico M.C. and others.

The words of this historic ABBA song express the value of Brotherhood, in ways which are up to you.  “It Cleans the Slate” in terms of petty differences...and for many brings back a rushing tide of memories of friends, with us and passed. 

Listed below are the Lyrics:

**Be sure to have your speakers on... we're playing the song for you!**

The Way Old Friends Do - ABBA

You and I can share the silence
Finding comfort together
The way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other
The way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do

(repeat)

We can face it together
The way old friends do