Friends In Low Places

Song Meaning of Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks, and what it is about

Earl Bud Lee, one of the song's co-writers, claims that the inspiration for the song came to him and a few other songwriter buddies over lunch at the well-known Nashville restaurant Tavern on the Row.

Lee discovered he had forgotten his money when the cheque arrived. When asked how he planned to pay for the food, he said "Don't worry. I have friends in low places. I know the cook."

The potential of the line "friends in low places" was instantly apparent to Lee and his songwriting collaborator Dewayne Blackwell, but they delayed acting on it.

A few months later, Lee and Blackwell were at a celebration for another songwriter's most recent No. 1 hit. As they discussed the "friends in low places" concept, "at that very moment, it all started to come together in a song," according to Lee. They composed the song using paper napkins because there was nothing else available for it. After "Friends in Low Places" had been refined, the composers asked Garth Brooks if he would record a demo for them.

The tavern in the song is referred to as "The Oasis" by guitarist James Garver, who named it after a place in Concordia, Kansas, where he was born. Garth Brooks sings Friends in Low Place, written by Earl Bud Lee and Dewayne Blackwell.

The song spent four weeks at the top of the Hot Country Songs chart and was named 1990 Single of the Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Lyrics of Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks

Blame it all on my roots

I showed up in boots

And ruined your black-tie affair

The last one to know

The last one to show

I was the last one you thought you'd see there

And I saw the surprise

And the fear in his eyes

When I took his glass of champagne

And I toasted you

Said, "Honey, we may be through,

But you'll never hear me complain."

'Cause I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases

My blues away

And I'll be okay

I'm not big on social graces

Think I'll slip on down to the oasis

Oh, I've got friends in low places

Well, I guess I was wrong

I just don't belong

But then I've been there before

Everything's all right

I'll just say goodnight

And I'll show myself to the door

Hey, I didn't mean

To cause a big scene

Just give me an hour and then

Well, I'll be as high

As that ivory tower

That you're livin' in

'Cause I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases

My blues away

And I'll be okay

I'm not big on social graces

Think I'll slip on down to the oasis

Oh, I've got friends in low places

I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases

My blues away

And I'll be okay

I'm not big on social graces

Think I'll slip on down to the oasis

Oh, I've got friends in low places

I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases

My blues away

And I'll be okay

I'm not big on social graces

Think I'll slip on down to the oasis

Oh, I've got friends in low places

I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases

My blues away

And I'll be okay