Merle Haggard was in prison when Johnny Cash came to that prison and did a concert. He said that changed his outlook on life and he decided he wanted to pursue music when he got out. He ended up becoming a country music legend.

This performance of this song is in my opinion his best. His “experienced”vocals deliver the feeling better than when he was young

You can’t go wrong with any Merle Haggard song. My personal favorite is Silver Wings.

Gosh I close my eyes and drift away like a lullaby except this time I heard it...I felt my mother (I am 67 yrs old) so thank you for this reaction.

Love Merle Haggard! The every day person’s poet.

I love Merle. My favorite country singer of all time. Thanx for giving him a listen. I try to catch all your reactions. You are so honest and smooth as silk. Wishing u all the best, love u my friend!

One of the great country legends. Glad you enjoyed it.

you're so right....good country can tell you a 'story'...make you happy...make you cry....with a 'fiddle' and a good guitar, and a steel guitar...you WILL get an uplifting or a heart wrenching(as this is)story...but, a story for sure!

This version is so much better than the studio version...so emotional!!

"THE FIGHTING SIDE OF ME" is my favorite by Merle Haggard, it should be one that you listen to!

Merle is the Bob Dylan of Country Music. He wrote hundreds of songs. Him and Buck Owens and others were the originators of The Bakersfield Sound. I grew up in Bakersfield where Merle made us proud of our hometown hero

That voice drop into his lower register is the “Hag Drop” amazing tone and he was 1 of a kind,

Great country legend, try "Mama Tried" next

THIS song takes me back to my childhood. Thank you for the memory.

This is my favorite song by Merle Haggard. He conveys the yearning of a condemned man for something that feels like home. "This song my mama sang...make my old memories come alive..sing me back home before I die." That shows the power of music over the listener.

The original recording (when he was much younger) is much stronger. Peace, Love!!

He’s old here his voice is shout you need to react to him singing it live at Anaheim stadium with Willie Nelson

Saw Keith Richards sing this at a Merle tribute.

Also just remembering the old days. Played this at my Dad's funeral.

Grateful Dead sing me back home cover 8 27 72 you would not regret listening to this cover amazing sound quality with a whole different feel to the song, So many fun little surprises throughout their version

Are the good times really over for good....is a huge hit for Merle

True story. He was the inmate that sang the song to the death row inmate.

So glad you're doing Merle.

I wish you would have done some earlier in his career. He’s 50 years into his career here. Love your reaction thought

Try out 'You're My Favorite Memory of All '. ❤❤

Why why why do you reactors choose videos of these great singers when they are up in age? You are doing yourself a huge disservice by not listening to them in their younger days. In his youth Merle had one of the best pure voices in country music. While this is still good, it pales in comparison to him in his prime.

Check out his voice 35 years before this video.

Kern River is an all time favorite of mine. If you want your heart pulled on listen to this but make sure it is one of the original recordings before his voice changed. 5:03

His next song you should do is called “I’m a lonesome fugitive”!!

Don Williams did a great cover of this song.

Merle Haggard was in prison at one point in his life.

Merle Haggard was in San Quentin prison. California Governor Ronald Reagan granted Merle a full pardon due to his lack of representation and excessive prison 😮. Any song you chose of Merle's tells a story that he wrote.

Once again with these great old country songs I'm gonna tell you Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead does a fantastic Cover of this

Should catch the younger version

His voice here had lost some of its strength, but it seems to be balanced with an increase in his emotional attachment to the words. Still prefer the studio version, but there is an undeniable power here.

Merle was in jail during his 20s .

React to some b sides man

This guy doesn't know who Merle Haggard is.....what I see cowboy hats...?