"Standing Outside The Fire" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 country Music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 artist Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks

Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...

. It was released in December 1993 as the third single from his album, In Pieces

In Pieces

In Pieces is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on August 31, 1993. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. It was also a huge hit outside the United States. In Great Britain it was Brooks' highest placed album on...

. The song also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series, Double Live, and The Ultimate Hits

The Ultimate Hits

The Ultimate Hits is an album from country music artist Garth Brooks, released on November 6, 2007, comprising 34 songs over two compact discs, as well as a DVD containing his music videos....

. It reached #3 on the Billboard Country Charts in 1994. The song was written by Brooks and Jenny Yates.

Song Information

• Key: A Major.
• Length - 3:52

"Standing Outside The Fire" is known by many to be a song of inspiration. One notable line in chorus reads: "Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire."

Background and Production

Garth provided the following background information on the song in the CD booklet liner notes from The Hits:

"I was in Los Angeles in 1992, hanging out with a good friend, Jenny Yates. In a conversation I was describing something that I though was really close, but for me it just stood outside the fire. There was that brilliant moment of silence when we just looked at each other and smiled, Within an hour and half, this song was written. This is another song of inspiration, and Jenny is that way when it comes to inspiration. I don't know if I have ever met a bigger dreamer than Jenny - to the one who saw the vision and made it happen - may hat's off to Jenny Yates."

Sam Bacco and Ferrell Morris provided percussion, Sam Bush played Mandolin, and Trisha Yearwood provided harmony vocals.

Music Video

Brooks claims, on his All Access DVD, that most letters he receives regarding "Standing Outside The Fire" are from participants (or relatives of) in Special Olympics

Special Olympics

Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....

. In the video, a high school student with Down syndrome

Down syndrome

Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...

 decides to not participate in the institution's Special Olympics but signs up for the regular event. There is much strife between the man's father and mother concerning whether or not he should be allowed to do this. The father is strongly opposed, claiming that "he will embarrass himself." However, the mother believes the father disapproves because he himself will be embarrassed. The character with Down syndrome is seen working very hard for the meet. On the day of the State Track and Field Meet, the son trips during a race and is injured. The coach tries to help him out, but the youth's father encourages his son to finish the race regardless, rather than quit. The father states "Get away from him! He is not finished!" After his father's encouragement, the young man picks himself up and sprints across the finish line, where he is emotionally embraced by both of his parents.

Track listing

UK CD Single Capitol CDCL 712 - 1994

1. "Standing Outside The Fire"
2. "Unanswered Prayers
   Unanswered Prayers
   "Unanswered Prayers" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American Country Music artist Garth Brooks which hit #1 on the country billboard charts in 1990. It debuted on his second album No Fences and also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series, and Double Live...
   
   "
3. "In Lonesome Dove"
4. "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)
   Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)
   "Ain't Goin' Down " is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American Country Music artist Garth Brooks. It was released in July 1993 as the lead single from his album, In Pieces. The song also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series, The Ultimate Hits, and Double Live...
   
   "

UK 2 disc CD Single Capitol CDCLS 712 - 1994

Disc One

1. "Standing Outside The Fire"
2. "The Night Will Only Know"
3. "Dixie Chicken"

Disc Two

1. "Standing Outside The Fire"
2. "Unanswered Prayers"
3. "In Lonesome Dove"
4. "Ain't Going Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)"

The Netherlands CD Single Capitol 72438136129 - 1994

1. "Standing Outside The Fire"
2. "The Night Will Only Know"
3. "Dixie Chicken"
4. "In Lonesome Dove"

Australian CD Single Capitol - 1993

1. "Standing Outside The Fire"
2. "Friends in Low Places
   Friends in Low Places
   "Friends in Low Places" is a song released by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was the first single from his second album, No Fences. The song spent four weeks at #1 on the U.S...
   
   "
3. "Every Now and Then"
4. "Interview"

UK 7" Vinyl single Capitol CL 712 - 1993

1. "Standing Outside The Fire"
2. "The Night Will Only Know"

Chart positions

Chart (1994)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	3
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	3
UK Singles Chart	28
Australian Singles Chart	45