Lyrics Uncovered: Garth Brooks, ‘All Day Long’
Garth Brooks sets out to give country fans a good time in the "All Day Long" lyrics, and he succeeds. The new song reflects the fun he had writing it with his friends.
"All Day Long" finds Brooks returning to the straight-ahead honky tonk energy of early hits like "Friends in Low Places." He co-wrote the song with Mitch Rossell, who also wrote Brooks' most recent No. 1 hit, "Ask Me How I Know," along with Bryan Kennedy, who's responsible for past Brooks hits including "The Beaches of Cheyenne" and "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association."
In a Facebook Live session announcing the song, Brooks recalls that Kennedy came into the songwriting session in a panic because he had lost the folder in an app on his phone that contained all of his ideas for new songs. Fortunately, Rossell was able to help him recover his files.
"This was gonna be the first time us three got to sit down and seriously think about songwriting," Brooks says. "I remember it just happening. It stumbled, stammered and then it took off."
Rossell was scheduled to pick up a van for an upcoming tour date, and he ended up staying at the writing session half an hour longer than he intended to, simply because the song was flowing so well. It reminded all three men of simpler times, just writing songs with friends.
"One of the things I miss sometimes in songwriting — sometimes it gets so off in the weeds, it's more of a struggle. This song was fun," Kennedy observes.
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The "All Day Long" lyrics reflect that sense of spontaneous fun, set to an up-tempo, electric guitar-driven track. "Somebody's got to start the weekend / Somebody's got to unwind / Somebody's got to find that honky-tonk out on the county line," Brooks sings, getting the party started from the very first lines.
Kennedy credits "And if we're gonna get the party started, somebody's gotta swing them doors" as the line that really kicked off the song. Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood, says that informal tone gave the song its easy feel.
"This is kinda the way you guys talk," she observes. "Like when I hear this song, I just hear you guys having a conversation."
They had so many great lyrics for "All Day Long" that they had to leave some favorites out, including "Somebody's gotta turn the lights out / Somebody's gotta call last round / Somebody's gotta go eat breakfast and pray that it stays down."
Kennedy and Rossell give Brooks the lion's share of the credit for "All Day Long."
"All you had to do is say one word, and off he goes," Kennedy marvels. "The song is pretty much written; we put our guitars in the case and go home."
"All Day Long" is the first single from a new album Brooks plans to release in 2019.
Garth Brooks' "All Day Long" Lyrics:
Somebody's got to start the weekend / Somebody's got to unwind / Somebody's got to find that honky-tonk out on the county line / With pretty things and a band that swings / That gets 'em all out on the floor / And if we're gonna get the party started, somebody's gotta swing them doors.
Somebody's gotta feed that jukebox / Somebody's gotta drink that beer / Somebody's gotta get all rowdy and raise some hell in here / Somebody's gotta dance with the women / Spin 'em to a country song / I can do this night life all day long.
Somebody's gonna need a shoulder / When that sad song plays / Somebody's gonna need to hold her, tell her it's okay / Just let her know to let it go / And then she's gonna have some fun / If she needs some help gettin' over him / Somebody's gonna get it done.
Somebody gotta shoot that whiskey / Somebody's gotta bust that rack / Somebody's gotta play that country that ain't ever comin' back / If home is where the heart is / Then I'm right where I belong / I can do this night life all day long.
Somebody's gotta go the distance / Somebody's gotta call last round / Somebody's gotta turn the lights off and shut this old bar down / When mornin' comes you'll find someone with a headache and a grin / You know Saturday night is comin' / Somebody's gotta go again.
Somebody's gotta feed that jukebox / Somebody's gotta hold my beer / Somebody's gotta get a little crazy and raise some hell in here / Somebody's gotta spend that paycheck / 'Til the money's gone / I can do this night life all day long.
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