Make Room at the Bottom

Album: Words (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ashley Monroe co-wrote this heartbreaking song with Brett James and recorded it for her debut album Satisfied in 2006. Despite garnering good reviews, the record failed to trouble the charts. However, when this track was played to Sara Evans a decade later it made an impact – both with her and another certain family member.

    "I had never heard it, and didn't know it was an older song," she told Billboard magazine. "It was really awesome on the part of the song pluggers and the publishers to think about the song for me. I love it when publishers do that. They really do their jobs, and they dig in, and find songs that they think I would love and that I would deliver well. As soon as I heard it, I loved it. I wanted to hold it.

    "Then I took it home and played it for my kids," Evans continued. "My son Avery said 'Mom, if you don't cut this song, I will lose all hope in you.' He's seventeen, but very wise beyond his years. For him to say that about the song is huge to me. It's a deep, dark, depressing song. And, he still has faith in me."
  • Brett James, who co-wrote this song, was 57 when he died in a plane crash on September 18, 2025. "I am absolutely heartbroken at the loss of one of the best writers I've ever worked with and recorded," Evans posted. "He will be so missed."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.