The Night I Called The Old Man Out by Garth Brooks

Album: In Pieces (1993)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This track from Garth Brooks' sixth album opens at the dinner table, where the singer has dared to challenge his tough-as-nails father. He realizes his mistake, but digs in his heels and wages a losing fight against the old man. He feels compassion for his dad, however, when he sees the tears in his eyes after their scuffle.
Despite the title, Brooks knew better than to call his old man out. The youngest of six kids, Brooks witnessed physical altercations between his brothers and his dad, a Marine Corps veteran and Golden Gloves boxer. Apparently, it was the way he commanded respect as the leader of his household, which instilled both fear and reverence in young Garth. "But I want to make sure you understand that I'm not defending my father or taking a position, I'm just telling you how it was," the singer explained in his 2017 book, The Anthology Part 1: The First Five Years. "There was democracy in our house. My dad was really open. In fact, I was amazed how open he was to people's opinions that he didn't share. The problem wasn't a difference of opinion, it was disrespect. That's when the red flag kind of came up. Then he just couldn't go backward anymore."
Brooks said the uptempo, almost frantic intro represents the tense moment where his character realizes he should apologize to diffuse the situation that's about to explode.
Brooks wrote this with his frequent songwriting partners Pat Alger ("Unanswered Prayers") and Kim Williams ("Papa Loved Mama").
This isn't the only song in Brooks' catalog that deals with domestic violence. His music video for "The Thunder Rolls" stirred controversy due to its storyline involving spousal abuse.
In Pieces, Brooks' sixth studio album, yielded two #1 hits on the Country chart: "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" and "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association."

Comments: 2

James from NcIt’s really not about abuse, it’s about respect. All young men sooner or later will push their dads to the point “the old man” says “if you’re gonna act like a jerk, I’m gonna treat you like a jerk”. Again, it’s all about respect, or in this case, the lack of it.
Al from IowaI was listening to In Pieces for the first time in over a decade and was kind of shocked that I never noticed how messed up this song is. It's quite literally a horrible example of child abuse that the narrator blames on themselves and sees nothing wrong with the bloody nose their dad gives them...wow!

see more comments

More Songfacts:

TemptedSqueeze

The Squeeze song "Tempted" is one of their few with lead vocals by Paul Carrack, who sang the Ace song "How Long" and was in Mike + The Mechanics.

Room At The TopTom Petty & the Heartbreakers

One of Tom Petty's most personal songs is "Room At The Top," which he stopped performing because it brought back painful memories.

Private DancerTina Turner

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits wrote "Private Dancer," which went to Tina Turner when he realized it wasn't a song for a man to sing.

Afternoon DelightStarland Vocal Band

The Starland Vocal Band got the title "Afternoon Delight" from the late-afternoon appetizer menu at the restaurant Clyde's Of Georgetown in Washington, DC.

True ColorsCyndi Lauper

With a message of acceptance and inclusivity, "True Colors" became a gay rights anthem. Cyndi Lauper help form an organization called True Colors United to help support LGBTQ youth.

Give It AwayRed Hot Chili Peppers

If what you get equals what you give away, you might as well give it all away. That's the concept behind "Give It Away" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.