On 27 July 1990, Garth Brooks was in the middle of a three-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with "The Dance", a track from his self-titled debut album that went on to become one of his signature songs. The story behind the recording is notable because Brooks was still an unsigned artist when he first heard it, and promised its writer he would record it if he ever landed a record deal. It has since remained a concert staple and one of Brooks's own favourite songs to perform.

The track was written by Tony Arata, who Brooks heard perform it at a Nashville open mic night while both were unknown songwriters trying to break into the industry. Released as the fourth and final single from Brooks's debut, "The Dance" became his second chart-topper and the album's fourth top-10 hit. Arata has said Brooks's version was so transformed from his original demo, which opened with a major chord and no piano, that he did not recognise his own song when he first heard the finished recording, crediting Brooks and producer Allen Reynolds for reshaping it.