Friends in Low Places
Brooks Jefferson Lyrics
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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
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
Yeah, 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
Yeah, 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
Yeah, 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
Yeah, 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 guess I was wrong
I just don't belong
But then, I've been there before
And everything is alright
I'll just say goodnight
And I'll show myself to the door
I didn't mean to cause a big scene
Just wait 'til I finish this glass
Then sweet little lady
I'll head back to the bar
And you can kiss my ass
Brooks Jefferson's song Friends in Low Places is about a man who shows up to his ex-girlfriend's high-class affair wearing boots, disrupting the party and causing a scene. He is the last to arrive and make an appearance, and the surprise on his ex's face shows that he was not expected to be there. The man takes a sip of champagne and toasts his ex, letting her know that even though they may be through, he will never complain about it.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the fact that the man has friends in low places, where he feels more at home with whiskey and beer to chase away his blues. He is not concerned with social graces and would rather slip away to a more relaxed and comfortable environment. The second verse indicates that he realizes he doesn't belong in this high-class environment and decides to say goodnight and leave. He reassures his ex that he didn't mean to cause a scene and will head back to the bar, where he feels more at home.
Overall, the song Friends in Low Places showcases Brooks Jefferson's country roots, with vivid imagery of boots, whiskey, and beer while highlighting the contrast between high society and low society lifestyles. It's a relatable tune for anyone who prefers a laidback approach to life, where social graces are not essential, and the company of friends is all that matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Blame it all on my roots
I come from a different background that involves wearing boots, and that's what caused me to behave differently.
I showed up in boots
I wore boots as part of my attire, which was different from what everyone else wore.
And ruined your black tie affair
My unconventional appearance and behavior disrupted the formal event you had planned.
The last one to know
I was not aware of what was going on until it was too late.
The last one to show
I arrived late, after everyone else had already shown up.
I was the last one you thought you'd see there
You did not expect me to show up at your high-class event.
And I saw the surprise
I noticed the shock on people's faces when they saw me.
And the fear in his eyes
I could tell that some people were scared by my presence.
When I took his glass of champagne
I grabbed someone's drink without asking, which was a bold move.
And I toasted you
I raised my glass to you, as a way of acknowledging you.
Said, 'Honey, we may be through
I acknowledged that our relationship might be over.
But you'll never hear me complain'
I will not be bitter or angry about it, though.
'Cause I've got friends in low places
I have a group of friends who are not part of high society.
Where the whiskey drowns
My friends and I drink a lot of whiskey.
And the beer chases my blues away
We drink beer to forget about our problems.
And I'll be okay
Being with my friends makes me feel better.
I'm not big on social graces
I don't really care about following proper etiquette.
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
I'm going to go hang out with my friends at a bar instead.
Oh, I've got friends in low places
My social circle is not considered high-class.
Well, I guess I was wrong
I made a mistake by coming to this fancy event.
I just don't belong
I don't fit in with high society.
But then, I've been there before
This isn't the first time I've felt out of place in a fancy setting.
Everything's all right
It's okay though, everything will be fine in the end.
I'll just say goodnight
I'm going to leave now and say goodbye.
And I'll show myself to the door
I'll politely exit on my own.
Hey, I didn't mean
I didn't intend to cause trouble.
To cause a big scene
I unintentionally made people uncomfortable by not belonging in this setting.
Just give me an hour and then
I just need some time to let loose and relax.
Well, I'll be as high
I'm going to get drunk.
As that ivory tower
I'll get just as high as the fancy people in their metaphorical ivory tower.
That you're livin' in
The high-class lifestyle that you and your friends are a part of.
Then sweet little lady
When I'm done drinking, I'll approach you.
I'll head back to the bar
After talking to you, I'll go back to my low-class bar with my friends.
And you can kiss my ass
I don't care what you think of me, I'll do what I want.
Contributed by Katherine Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.