EconGoneCountry

Supply and demand with a twang


Title: Right Where I Need to Be 

​Artist: Gary Allan

Economic Concepts: Opportunity Cost; Income; Standard of Living 

Details: What must be sacrificed to put in extra hours at work and potentially earn a promotion?  For some the opportunity cost may be low but for others quite high.  In the song, the man needs to fly to New Orleans because "Boss man says my big promotion's on the line".  However, lately the man has been on the road a lot and consequently feels his relationship is suffering.  "All this leavin' her alone is killin' me".  In the end, the man decides the opportunity cost of taking the flight to New Orleans is too great and chooses to be with his wife at home instead.  Hard work can bring promotions and high standards of living, but for some the opportunity cost of this is too great.           

Lyrics
There's a plane flyin' outta here tonight:
Destination, New Orleans.
Boss man says my big promotion's on the line:
He says that's right where I need to be.

Lately I've been on the road more than I've been home.
All this leavin' her alone is killin' me.
And holdin' her, right now, has got me thinkin' more an' more,
This is right where I need to be.

Where when I hear her I can see her,
I can smell her sweet perfume.
I can feel her skin against me when I sleep.
Where I won't miss her, I can kiss her anytime that I want to.
Yeah, that's right where I need to be.
Yeah, that's right where I need to be.
Wow.

There's a plane flyin' outta here tonight,
With an empty first-class seat.
'Cause I've finally got all my priorities in line,
And I'm right where I need to be.

Where when I hear her I can see her,
I can smell her sweet perfume.
I can feel her skin against me when I sleep.
Where I won't miss her, I can kiss her anytime that I want to.
Yeah, that's right where I need to be.
Yeah, I'm right where I need to be.