The main difference between Merle Haggard and everyone else is that Merle Haggard is the greatest country singing star that ever was. For all time. That's all there is to it.
He is such a talented songwriter. Anyone cannot just write a song, you have to live it, and Merle sings & writes from experience. A legend in our time. He was pardoned by Ronald Reagan, then Gov of CA.
I play his songs every time I pick up my guitar, and this new generation never heard these songs and then I explain who MERLE HAGGARD is and move on to CONWAY TWITTY and MARTY ROBBINS, CANT BELIEVE I'VE BEEN SINGING MOST OF THESE SONGS FOR 40 YEARS?
@@grime5652 do time in the penitentiary and you would feel his pain like I do through this song..and trust me everyone knows where you've been and though we paid our debt we owed them we still have a number tied to our name for life
My number was 27768, and I served time for house breaking, assault and theft. Now I live a quite life, and barely leave my house. I’m hoping one day to start working again. So I can live a good honest life. No excuses I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I drove away the people who cared for me the most.
@@grime5652 I walked out supposedly free of my debt to society years ago and haven't reoffended since but everybody knows I've been in prison and they won't let my secret go untold nor forgotten no matter how far I go or how long it's been and I'm still serving time
l agree with you, indeed Merle Haggard is a great and talented artist who's songs never goes out of style,he's one of my favorites artist, he's songs still and always heals the Soul, I pray God gives you lot of beautiful days.
It occurred to me how come he sounds so good: he's the greatest country singing star that ever was. That's all there is to it. That's simply all there is to it. The Strangers are brilliant, of course, too.
He had the best raw ability but something about Waylon in his prime, ie mid 70s was unbeatable in my opinion. Merle sounded almost the same his entire life and as far as longevity and classic country, hands down Merles the Goat
When I think of Merle Haggard, one word comes to mind: REAL. Just real. Real goodlooking, real talent, and just for REAL!!! No one comes close. Love you always Merle. Rest easy..............
Music has lost a truly great man today. Merle was the total package, he was a singer, a songwriter and a brilliant instrumentalist. He would never let the music executives push him around. And as a result His music was always great. They don't make men like Merle Haggard anymore. This is a devastating loss for his family friends and his fans. RIP Merle
please do me favor i am a vivid fun of merle haggard i've been searching of his songs entitled NO REASON TO QUIT but it was the song if willy nelson to appear on the screen also the song entitled I COULD HAVE BEEN GONE WRONG please post it as these songs are my favorite thank you..
When Country music was real. When it was ACTUALLY music! My favorite country artist ever, thanks to my Dad for playing it when I was growing up. Thanks Merle for the wonderful stories and MUSIC!
kimberly you are so wright about that.we been listing to country music all my life at 72 yrs old we still love it glad some-body else has got good taste in good music.
l agree with you, indeed Merle Haggard is a great and talented artist who's songs never goes out of style,he's one of my favorites artist, he's songs still and always heals the Soul, I pray God gives you lot of beautiful days…
I've been to the Preston School of Industry and San Quentin State Prison where you served time, Merle. I've seen those ugly bars and those punishing walls. They could not hold your talent, and your talent set you free. By knowing this, your music is all the sweeter to my ears. Thank you for your extraordinary artistry, rest in peace dear brother!
@@birgittaedstrand8754 His sentence was crazy - not fair and certainly not justice. If he could break out that many times from so many different places, maybe you should all look at what keep people inside the bars - how about a teenager getting a little help, maybe teach them a trade, that old man headed for the electric chair changed this kid's life -- it really didn't take much. Shame on our prison system.
Merle did something differently. The Haggard camp knew they were on to something when "Okie from Muskogee" and "The Fightin' Side of Me" came out. Everywhere they went, every show, "Okie" did more than prompt enthusiastic applause. There was an unanticipated adulation racing through the crowds now, standing ovations that went on and on and sometimes left the audience and the band members alike teary-eyed. Merle had somehow stumbled upon a song that expressed previously deep fears, spoke out loud, gripes and anxieties otherwise only whispered, and now people were using his song, were using "him," to connect themselves to these larger concerns and to one another. He connected with the silent majority in society, the man trying to be a good Dad, a good worker, a good husband, a loyal American. However, they all knew some things were wrong in our country and our politicians were not taking care of the issues as they should have. He spoke for us all, to us all. He was, and shall be a part of the average American, doing his best and trying to make it in a world that is not always fair. This was 1969, a difficult time in American history. I was a young 10 year old kid then and was watching it all happen. I definitely connected with Merle's music and I was hooked. I always will be. Pray for our nation people. It is headed in the wrong direction.
When I was a kid, my dad had this Merle Haggard record. To this day I remember sitting there and listening to that strong honest beautiful voice singing lyrics that were so real and heartfelt. I will remember this song until I die. In real life Merle had a prison record, so these lyrics are not just the fake twangy country lyrics of today. They meant something, and listening to him he made you feel it deep inside your soul. RIP Merle, thank you for your songs. You are no longer a branded man, and may God's warmth bring you out of the cold.
I suppose I'm a very sappy person but when I listen to Merle sing I just cry like a baby. What an amazing singer / Songwriter. I'll Merle. RIP Mr. Haggard 😢 I will always miss you
My farmer dads favorite. Mine too. Played fighting side of me at my marine corps dad's funeral. My dad was buried with his cowboy boots and listening to Merle haggard
He is so good and I love his songs. Back in the day, he was really good looking as well, or I think so. Love you Merle ~ Country isn't country like it was back in the day.
Good looking -- he was truly handsome, those eyes, that mouth - holy moly he was beyond handsome - sexy and charming - he seemed to love us as much as we loved him. Ben has to learn some things from his father. Ben isn't that great looking, generic, average, but lacks personality and charm - got to have that along with a great sining voice and a brilliant guitarist which he certainly is - just lacks that connection with his audience. He seems cool and aloof.
I am 66 and growing up with him being so big all the time the truth is---we actually became numb to it and did not realize how good he was and that we were watching history take place.. Now you look back and go wow no wonder he was so big.
l agree with you, indeed Merle Haggard is a great and talented artist who's songs never goes out of style,he's one of my favorites artist, he's songs still and always heals the Soul, I pray God gives you lot of beautiful days…
He definitely exemplified the qualifications for the what was and still remembered. Held as standard by. Those who know and calls and resonates in the ears of anyone who wore their true self on the sleeve and that includes the rock bottom of the heart. Pain of enduring life and love it's not not too difficult to see why he is regarded as amongst the all time greats. That is to have embraced the greater collective spirit.to strike the universal Chord that carries on and continues to resonate with the next generation.
Every where i go travel The marks follows me,, and the THE TITLE SAY IT ALL merle is the real deal. I mean nothing but this song is my life even though I'm not that "BRANDED"
Music like this is what shows the meaning of a good man who just made a mistake in life , and went on to be loved by millions for his music and forgotten about his past...Not all men and women who have served time are bad people WE are just the onea who got caught or the ones that didnt have a grip on life at the time..As for me, ive learned that ive done wrong in my life and im not happy about my past, if i can change it i would, but i cant so i live the life as a branded man in this song and still living a normal life..going to work everyday giving myself a new branded term.......A WORKING MAN FOR HIS FAMILY....
Still got a live album of his I bought c.1972 when I was 15 a long long time ago. His songs were real about real events, real stories. Still amazing to this day.
Merle was my Dad's favorite! Grew up with his albums! I changed the records and sat on back porch singing with my Dad! Miss him so very much! But he left me many memories!
I had Normans Fender Pedal steel .. the one in this clip... Got from a friend that got it from Tigar Bell many years back.. tigar was a child prodigy and played in merls band when he was like 6 nice to see it again thanks for the post
These lyrics hold so much truth. Once in prison you're branded for life and that's pretty sad for those trying to go straight. They paid their dept to society and the playing field should be even with the house but it isn't not by a long shot.
Brother 10 yrs after your comments - it still sounds good + and I thought the same + those musicians were plugged in to some great equipment - they try to make it now - the way it was then -
l agree with you, indeed Merle Haggard is a great and talented artist who's songs never goes out of style,he's one of my favorites artist, he's songs still and always heals the Soul, I pray God gives you lot of beautiful days…
wow grew up listening to country music, my mom was a country gal, once we got some land she raised a cow named 'Betsy ' her pet she raised from little.
MERLE,HANK,WAYLON, GEORGE, JOHNNY, CONWAY ETC. ETC. ARE ALL UP THERE SINGING WITH THE ANGELS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN TILL WE ALL GET TO SEE THEM AGAIN AND HEAR THEM SING 😇🌹😎✌🤟💖
My mother used to always play Merle Haggard... as a kid I always thought he was lame. I never thought about him again until I heard he was dead... I did some research and this dude is actually a total badass. I could never listen to country music but... my respects to you. April 5th we lost Cobain now April 6th we lost Haggard, anyway rest in peace brother, fly high
+roughtake not cool man... Cobain was a very troubled person and he took his own life due to mental illness, at least show some respect to the dead brother
My dad liked Merle Haggard also. I think he really liked Lonesome Fugitive. His favorite song by Crystal Gayle was Don't Make My Brown Eyes Blue. I lost my dad in 1997. I sure do miss him. I'd really like to talk to him again.
Miss my Dad, too! Merle was my Dad's favorite! Sang with him many nights on back porch, while my Mom cooked dinner! We were father and daughter and friends because of music!
