This started with the altered version of "Friends in Low Places" that was on the TV performance from Texas Stadium, "This Is Garth Brooks Too." For anyone who didn't see that, Garth did the song almost all the way through, to what would have been the last chorus, and then he started saying that he had realized, only after the song was out on the radio, that there was something wrong. He said he asked himself, "Garth (that's what I go by down there, is Garth) -- would you handle this situation that way?" He said that he probably wouldn't, and that he had to go back and rewrite the second verse, which he then sang. I thought his rewrite was a good start, but that it could be better, and so I did my own. I have shown below his version of the new second verse first, and then mine.
VERSE 1:
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
I toasted you, said, "Honey, we may be through,
But you'll never hear me complain"...
CHORUS:
'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,
I think I'll step on out to the oasis.
'Cause I've got friends in low places.
VERSE 2:
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
You're livin' in.
CHORUS
VERSE 2 (Garth's changes):
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 wait 'till I finish this glass;
Then, sweet little lady, I'll head back to the bar,
And you can kiss my ass.
VERSE 2 (my changes):
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 wait 'till I finish this glass;
And then I'll turn tail, and head on back to the bar,
So you can start kissing my ass.
CHORUS
END:
Oh, I've got friends ... in low places.
Questions? Comments? Please send e-mail to jbearden@ieee.org
Material Copyright © 1998-2003 by Jim Bearden