Friends in Low Places
Country Music Masters 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
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
The lyrics to the song Friends in Low Places by Country Music Master was written by DeWayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee in the early 1990s. The song tells the story of a man who attends a formal party in boots, ruining the event's elegance. The singer admits to being the last person invited to the party, and the last to arrive. However, he seems unbothered by this fact and compensates with his confidence that he has friends in low places. He cements his sentiment towards his lowly friends by taking a drink of champagne from an elite guest and boldly toasting it to his friendships. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I've got friends in low places" several times, forming the song's central theme of the singer's preference for his rowdy, blue-collar friends over the aristocratic, formal party-goers.
The song is, in essence, an anthem for people who are not quite comfortably embraced by high society or formal social expectations. The singer is unapologetic about being from a less affluent or well-educated societal stratum. Instead, he asserts his relationships with his friends in the low-down bars, shirking the need for social approval, a common sentiment around the Honky-tonk subculture of the time.
In the end, the singer shows no remorse for his actions and insists that he'll return to the bar and expects sweet little ladies to kiss his ass. Overall, the Friends in Low Places song by the Country Music Masters celebrates the power of friendship and personalities that exist outside of society's very rigid social norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Blame it all on my roots
I'm sorry I'm not fancy like you, blame it on where I come from
I showed up in boots
I wore my boots instead of dress shoes
And ruined your black tie affair
I messed up your fancy party
The last one to know
I was the last to hear about the party
The last one to show
I was also the last to arrive
I was the last one
Clearly I was not invited on time
You thought you'd see there
You didn't expect to see me there
And I saw the surprise
I noticed that you were shocked
And the fear in his eyes
And that other guy was terrified
When I took his glass of champagne
I didn't care what he thought, I took his drink
And I toasted you
I raised my glass to you, sarcastically
Said, honey, we may be through
Our friendship is probably over by now
But you'll never hear me complain
I am not going to whine about it
'Cause I've got friends in low places
I have buddies who are not as stuck-up as you
Where the whiskey drowns
We drink too much and get lost in the moment
And the beer chases my blues away
Alcohol makes me forget about my troubles
And I'll be okay
I don't need you to pity me, I'll be fine
I'm not big on social graces
I don't care about being polite
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
I should go somewhere more relaxed
Well, I guess I was wrong
I realize now that I wasn't supposed to be there
I just don't belong
I don't fit in with your crowd
But then, I've been there before
I've experienced rejection like this before
Everything's all right
I'm not too upset, really
I'll just say goodnight
I'll say goodbye and leave
And I'll show myself to the door
I am getting out of here
Hey, I didn't mean
Sorry if I caused trouble
To cause a big scene
I didn't want to make a spectacle of myself
Just give me an hour and then
I just want to finish my drink and be on my way
Well, I'll be as high
I'll be intoxicated
As that ivory tower
As high as your social status
That you're livin' in
That you seem so proud of
Just wait 'til I finish this glass
Please excuse me while I finish my drink
Then sweet little lady
After that, I'll need to talk to you
I'll head back to the bar
I'm going back to where I belong
And you can kiss my ass
I'm done here, and I don't need your approval
Writer(s): BLACKWELL DEWAYNE, BLACKWELL DEWAYNE, LEE EARL BUD, LEE EARL BUD
Contributed by Leo M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.