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

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining Victims

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining VictimsSong Writing

Just like Darrin was replaced on Bewitched, groups have swapped out original members, hoping we wouldn't notice.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.