Maverick country singer Merle Haggard represents an unusual
intersection in American music, a crossroad where folk,
pop, jazz and blues traditions are used to create his own
soul-baring form of expression. With an impressive 39 #1
country hits, numerous awards (Grammy, CMA, ACM, and BMI
have all acknowledged him), the 63 year old Haggard has
always set his own trends: he's the only country performer
ever featured on the cover of jazz bible Downbeat; the only
California born singer in the Country Music Hall of Fame;
and the only artist who's done stints both as an invited
entertainer at the White House and in San Quentin's
infamous solitary confinement "hole" -- clearly a powerful,
creative force.
Haggard remains an uncompromising artist whose work relies
upon t More...
Review about Merle Haggard Elegaic masterpiece | Reviewer: Steve Borrow
------ About the song Workin' Man Blues performed by Merle Haggard
Bob Dylan engages in a dialogue with Country legend, Merle Haggard’s anthem to the working man bearing the same title which is why it is Working Man Blues #2. Merle paid homage to the working man who gets up every day, year in and year out, has a quiet beer occasionally, never tosses in the towel for an easier life, and never goes on welfare. He invited us to “Sing a little bit of these working man blues”, which Bob’s employ’s in his reprise.
Bob presents an elegiac and quite mournful portrait of the modern industrial and agricultural worker in this age of rapid globalisation, where jobs have been shipped abroad, and farming communities decimated by the advent of runaway shops and regional consolidation of agricultural production. The lyrics present these issues in somewhat fragmented fashion, perhaps like a David Lynch short, where you feel you have understood the overall meaning, but the imagery remains obscure.
In these Modern Times, Merle’s heroes have been forced to either compete for dwindling wages or remain idle and dependent upon government support. This is has a devastating impact upon the psyche of those who have structured their lives around a solid work ethic and financial independence.
There is a reference to the issue of terrorism and the deleterious impact all this social changes has exacted on personal relationships, such as disturbed sleep induced by worry, the breakdown of marriages (nice salute to Ramblin’ Jack Eliot – “I sleep in the kitchen with my feet in the hall”), and the pressure to leave and find work elsewhere. There is an obvious reference to the acquisition of farm properties through foreclosures and the devastating consequences this has had for those communities.
This is one of the most poignant songs about the common man ever composed.
When my blue moon turns to gold again, and the rainbows turns the clouds away. When my blue moon turns to gold again, You'll be back within my arms to stay. Memories that linger in my heart,Memories that make my heart grow cold. But some day they'll live again,sweetheart, And my blue moon again will turn to gold. When my blue moon turns to gold again, . And when the rainbows turns the clouds away. When my blue moon turns to gold again, you'll be back within my arms to stay, you'll be back within my arms to stay.
I've always enjoyed your music Merle,but they seem to have even more meaning in this day and age..Lived in Porterville for years and frequented, Kernville,Kern River and ofcourse Bakersfield, Yes , I walked the streets of Bakersfield...Now living in Grants Pass Oregon.. Thanks for the memories... "Dutch"
NICE JOB | Reviewer: Mark
------ About the song Softly And Tenderly performed by Merle Haggard
I really like this song. I have been trying to find the lyrics. I first heard it on a movie (i forgot what movie). Can you please direct me to where I can hear the melody of this music?
merle haggard is the best song writer of all time . and he has so many songs of so many different styles. some fix in the pop mode . some pure country . and some blues . but this is by far my favorite hag song . but i never heard merle sing it . nor have i heard gram parsons sing it . i found it on a ricky van shelton cd . or the gatlin brothers .but i can no longer find it . but im still looking for the past 5 yrs . for it .
blaze foley | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song If I Could Only Fly performed by Merle Haggard
this song was written by blaze foley, not merle haggard. foley is the original artist and haggard covers the song.
Im a singer songwriter from okla.I was told by a friend of mine "Bill Shore"who is a great song writer to review this song in my quest for songwriting success.This is an awesome work and I will continue to stay behind the pen! ,Ryan Rhynes
Another Song of the South | Reviewer: David Meyer
------ About the song Sing Me Back Home performed by Merle Haggard
"Sing Me Back Home" is a evocation of a condemned prisoner's last request that is squarely in the southern Gospel tradition. Haggard encapsulates the sentiment in two short but powerful verses, buttressed with a refrain that takes you right down the hall with the prisoner to his last moments. A version recorded by the Flying Burrito Brothers in the 1970s reveals the power of these simple lyrics when song in multiple part harmonies. This is Haggard at his best.
I like the Tulare Dust song a lot, and I had it on a cassette tape which was eaten and destroyed by my tape player. Now, I would like to get Tulare Dust on a CD. Is it available on CD, and if so, where can I get that song and the a CD of that entire set of songs that were on the cassette?
This was a greaat song when Merle Haggard recorded it. It is going to be one more of George Strait's number one hits...and it is going to make Merle another pile of money. . . . .
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