<P> In a 2009 essay on Brooks, Chuck Klosterman reflected on the song's success . Brooks, he argued, had filled a void in popular culture left by Bruce Springsteen during the 1990s: </P> <P>... (H) e made songs that satisfied all the same needs as Bruce's did, except with a little less sincerity and a little better understanding of who his audience was . "Friends in Low Places" was as effective as pop music ever gets: It's a depressing song that makes you feel better . Singing along with that song was like drunkenly laughing at a rich person and knowing that you were right...It's a song that makes me want to get drunk out of spite . Garth told stories about blue - collar people who felt good about what their bad life symbolized...</P> <P> The original version of "Friends in Low Places" has two verses . In 1991, Brooks added a "third verse" to the song in live performances . His spiel leading to the new verse claimed that he thought the song's original verse didn't reflect how he would really act in that situation . It is basically a rewrite of the second verse, with only the last few lines changed, culminating in "Just wait til I finish this glass / Then sweet little lady, I'll head back to the bar / And you can kiss my ass". </P> <P> In September 2015, it was announced a new version of "Friends in Low Places" would be released on Brooks's 25th anniversary No Fences album . The song would feature George Strait, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, and Keith Urban singing along with Brooks . The 25th anniversary edition of the album was scrapped over royalty disputes, but the song appeared on Brooks' 2016 The Ultimate Collection box set . </P>

What is the song friends in low places about