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On Garth Brooks: The Hits Garth says: "'Friends in Low Places' was the last demo session I ever did as a singer. The demo was for Bud Lee and Dewayne Blackwell. I sang the session out in Hendersonville, and for the next 2 weeks the chorus to this song kept running through my head. I knew it would be a year and a half before the release of No Fences because Garth Brooks was just getting ready to be released. I asked Bud Lee and Dewayne if I could hold onto it and, without a blink of an eye, they both said yes. Putting that kind of faith into an unknown artist is unheard of. Thanks Bud and Dewayne for believing in me." (thanks, Alice - Winston-Salem, NC)

This ballad about a cowboy who turns up at the engagement party or wedding reception of an old flame is a crowd pleaser. Brooks introduces it with a four note arpeggio on his acoustic guitar, which inevitably brings roars of applause. After the second verse he invites the audience - the friends in low places - to sing the mysterious third verse - which is only ever performed live, and which contains - by 21st Century standards - an extremely mild expletive. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England)

Mark Chesnutt recorded a more down-tempo version of this song almost a year before Garth Brooks did, though Chesnutt's version was not a single. Chesnutt's appears on his album Too Cold at Home. (thanks, Beau - Phoenix, AZ)

The Stories Behind Country Music's All-Time Greatest 100 Songs, Bud Lee explained that he got the title one day when he and some fellow Nashville songwriters (including his writing partner Dewayne Blackwell) were having lunch at a restaurant called Tavern on the Row. When the check came, Lee realized he didn't have any money, and said not to worry because "I have friends in low places. I know the cook."

Comments:

At the 3:40 mark in the song you can hear someone yell "PUSH MARIE". While the song was being recorded, one of the band member's wife was going into labor and he wasn't able to make it in time. This is his tribute to his wife and kid.
- Tyler, Indianapolis, IN

To BobPape, Austin,tx----That song is about a bar that was in the basement of a hotel that was on the corner of fifth and washington in Concordia,ks. A member of the band, James Garver is from Concordia. It is my understanding that the song was inspired by stories he shared. The Oasis had quite a reputation. You had to go through a series of hallways to reach it. Alot of things went unnoticed there because of its location in the basement. Hence the line "low places"
- Rob, Concordia, KS

HELP I KNOW i played this song in my bar *'81 to '84) I need PROOF that this song came out in the early 80s. PLEASE HELP>
- dave, milwaukee, WI

One of the best drinking & karaoke songs of all time!
- Michael, San Diego, CA

I sang this song at a local talent show two years ago. Great song. As to what team GB likes I only have this to say...Who Cares?
- J.R., Elkhart, IN

To Seth, Clyde in KS----- Hate to burst your little bubble, but since this song first came out, I've heard something like that many times over. Apparently (but not surprisingly) there are quite a few bars it this counry with that name. As to weather or not Garth was refering to a particular bar of that name--- Does anybody know where that place that might actually be?
- BobPape, Austin, TX

There is a Cemetary in central Oklahoma renamed "Friends in Low Places Cemetary"
- James, Edmond, OK

Brett and Dustin neither onw know what they are talking about. Garth went to Oklahoma State on a javelin scholarship and still appears in OSU promo commercials, so im pretty sure he is an OSU fan.
- trev, new albany, IN

I like this song. I've heard the live version and I have to confess that I didn't like the third verse. Garth should've left well enough alone.
- Farrah, Elon, NC

even though i'm not a huge country fan, i have to admit this is a great song! this song is played at every family gathering my family has!
- Caitlin, Upper Township, NJ

Brett from OK. Garth may be from Oklahoma, but i'm sure he's a Nebraska Cornhusker fan!! He knows how to pick a good college football team!! Go Huskers!
- Dustin, Lincoln, NE

that song was written in a bar 13 miles from where i live....... who coulda that that. there was a oasis bar he wrote about and some guy from concordia was in his band so he wrote about a song from concordia that made country kick up a next step
- seth, clyde , KS

GARTH BROOKS is the Donal Trump of country music. The master of his much own over blown hype. This song should be called " I've got friends in Y'all places". Long Live Classic Rock
- JIM, Seattle, WA

Brett, GB is from OK, but he went to Oklahoma State. He's probably not a sooner's fan. I don't now why he would want to be anyway.
- Joseph, Newport News, VA

great song...but even better, the oasis that is mentioned in the song was a bar in the the pop. 5,000 town i live in, who woulda thought?
- Shelby, Concordia, KS

A country anthem song for sure. I was never a country fan, but this is one of those tunes that got me intrested in country and I started to enjoy it, both old and new. I saw him in concert back in the 90's and when the 1st few chords of this song are played, the crowd goes nuts, it's electric to say the least.
- Dee, Indianapolis, IN

Garth brooks is one of the best country singers there ever was.
- Cory, Boonville, IN

Mark Chestnutt also recorded this song.
- Steve, St. Louis, MO

yay i love this song hal sparks made fun of it on i love the 90's
- Caitlin, sailsbury, NC

Garth Brooks is from Oklahoma!!! BOOMER!!!! SOONERS!!!!
- Brett, Moore, OK

there is a third verse to this song, but Garth wrote it after the song had already come out. as the story goes, he heard it on the radio one day and it didn't sound right. so he added another verse that he plays in his concerts. the third verse is simple- it is word for word form the second verse, only "just give me an hour and then" is changed to "just wait till i finish this glass" the rest goes- "then sweet little baby i'll come back to the bar, and you can kiss my ass"
- r, o, DE