Recorded entirely by Phil Collins during the Both Sides sessions (1993), where he famously played every instrument himself.
In the third verse, Collins questions the official story of the death, with lines like "What did they know? What did they hide?" and "If they told the truth, he might be here today".
Rare performance clips and audio are frequently shared on the Phil Collins Reddit . Phil Collins – For a Friend Lyrics - Genius
It is included in the "Other Sides" digital compilation (2019) and the "Both Sides (All the Sides)" 2024 deluxe re-release.
Once considered extremely rare, the song is now more accessible: