Merle Haggard, Country Music Legend, Dies at 79

[step.eng69]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/merle-haggard-country-music-legend-dies-at-79/ar-BBrrs8r?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=iehp

Country legend Merle Haggard, often called “the Poet of the Common Man,” whose music reflected his hardscrabble roots and hard-living ways as well as a tenderness that made him a revered songwriter, died Wednesday at his home near Redding, Calif. He was 79.

The Associated Press confirmed his death.

 

[lionroar88]

 

[step.eng69]

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Picked the Appropriate song lionroar


Sing Me Back Home
By Merle Haggard
The warden led a prisoner down the hallway to his doom
And I stood up to say good-bye like all the rest
And I heard him tell the warden just before he reached my cell
"Let my guitar-playing friend do my request"

Let him sing me back home with a song I used to hear
Make my old memories come alive
Take me away and turn back the years
Sing me back home before I die

I recall last Sunday morning a choir from 'cross the street
Came in to sing a few old gospel songs
And I heard him tell the singers "there's a song my mama sang
Could I hear once before you move along?"

Won't you sing me back home, with the song I used to hear
Make my old memories come alive
Take me away and turn back the years
Sing me back home before I die

Sing me back home before I die

 

[tgar]

First thing I remember knowing, was a lonesome whistle blowing.........RIP to one of the greatest song writers, guitarists and real Country musicians of all time. Pot smoking counter culture hero and partner of Willie Nelson among many others.

I think I'll just stay here and Drink...... RIP Merle.

 

[rudedude]

 

[Chickenman Testa]

RIP - got into real country music in my 40s (I.e. not Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and similar Coors Light-esque musical garbage) and he is the man.

Here's my favorite:

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Might be my favorite too, Chicken Man. So many great ones. Anybody with Sirius radio, they're playing wall to wall Hag on Willie's Roadhouse.

 

[lionroar88]

First thing I remember knowing, was a lonesome whistle blowing.........RIP to one of the greatest song writers, guitarists and real Country musicians of all time. Pot smoking counter culture hero and partner of Willie Nelson among many others.

I think I'll just stay here and Drink...... RIP Merle.

I'll sit down and join you

 

[lionroar88]

My Dad's favorite

 

[tallahasseelion]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/merle-haggard-country-music-legend-dies-at-79/ar-BBrrs8r?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=iehp

Country legend Merle Haggard, often called “the Poet of the Common Man,” whose music reflected his hardscrabble roots and hard-living ways as well as a tenderness that made him a revered songwriter, died Wednesday at his home near Redding, Calif. He was 79.

The Associated Press confirmed his death.

And on his birthday no less. My favorite Merle story comes from a Tonite Show with Johnny Carson episode which featured Merle and Johnny Cash. The dialogue went something like this ...
Merle to Johnny Cash: I know that '58 concert at San Quentin was a real life changer.
Johnny Cash (with a puzzled look on face): Well that was a while back but ... yeah, yeah I guess I remember you being in the band.
Merle: Johnny, I was in the audience.

 

[nittany119]

First thing I remember knowing, was a lonesome whistle blowing.........RIP to one of the greatest song writers, guitarists and real Country musicians of all time. Pot smoking counter culture hero and partner of Willie Nelson among many others.

I think I'll just stay here and Drink...... RIP Merle.

Mama Tried....been a staple of the Grateful Dead for many, many years. Jerry covered Sing Me Back Home. Another great one gone.

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

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Loved PPL's song and loved hearing it covered by bar bands. They sang that in response to "Okie."
Merle got the last laugh in that story line more recently....

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Merle Haggard was a bit of an enigma, and some of his songs were enigmatic as well, such as this one. I recall this was a staple on CMTV when I was nearing the end of high school. I loved it, especially the break at the end before the chorus the last time around. He was a guy whose ability spanned many decades and was still relevant. Not a fan of everything he ever did in his life, but then I'm not of fan of everything I did either. His death reminds me of another song from that time by George Jones..."Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes."

 

[LaJolla Lion]

First thing I remember knowing, was a lonesome whistle blowing.........RIP to one of the greatest song writers, guitarists and real Country musicians of all time. Pot smoking counter culture hero and partner of Willie Nelson among many others.

I think I'll just stay here and Drink...... RIP Merle.

Mama Tried.

 

[nittany119]

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Skull and Roses. One of the finest live recordings ever. A great Wharf Rat and then Not Fade Away into GDTRFB. Super hot

 

[simons96]

sang "Mama Tried" at karaoke last night with a tear in my eye

 

[Nit Nolte]

I like this version of a song Merle wrote:

 

[Nit Nolte]

When I was 10 or 12 my parents took me to see Merle Haggard in Strasburg. That was not long after Okie From Muskogee was released and his popularity was huge. As he was being escorted to the building containing the stage, the camera flashes looked like fireworks. My dad knew the owners of the venue so we got to go back stage and meet whoever happened to be playing there. Merle Haggard put on a great show and backstage he was quiet and unassuming. His popularity at the time would have made many people unapproachable but he just acted like a guy who was going to clean up the place after everybody left.