One of my favorite songs. Beg my mom for this album when I was 16 for my birthday 1968 bout 54 yrs ago.

He was the best as there will never be anyone that is better than Merle!! He will live on in our hearts forever, he was special. His voice, his band his charm that he knew how to pull it all together. It takes a lot of pride and he did it. Thanks you Merle for it all.

I got to drink beers with this legend. The Poet of the common man. May Silver Wings carry you home Merle. Today is a sad day

He sang the life of all us outsiders and misfits.

There will never be another Hag. You will be missed. RIP Merle

God he sang like an angel. What a mans man.

One amazing voice right to the soul.

Released in October of 1968 and made it to No.3 on the US Billboard Country Singles Chart. I sure do miss him as I love all of his songs. He was just special to our country music.

Merle has an unique voice.

What a fabulous singer. You don’t have to be a country fan to appreciate this.

Love Merle or Noel singing this Song. #3-21-2024 6:50pm. MABS

One of the best ever. Love the Hag.✝️

This has become my favorite version of this great song..Thanks Merle

I am 5 years younger but grew up 2 miles from his first home. I watched The Cousin Herb show every night. RIP Merle.

This recording was live on the show HEE HAW and it sounds much better than the studio versions. The song (this recording) can only be found in past HEE HAW recordings on line. This is my favorite song from the HAG. NOBODY SINGS IT BEST!

The first time I have seen this live clip. What a way to get a Saturday morning going. Merle Haggard. Oh baby!!!

Beautiful!!! Reminds me of George Jones’ question, “ Who’s gonna fill their shoes?”

I love all his music

Have Always LOVED Mr Merle Haggard. Since I was 11 in 1967. Still Love Him Today & His Sons 10-24-2023 2:28pm. MABS

I truly am a Merle Haggard fan, have been all my life. To me he is the one and only True Country Writer and The Best Singer. his songs come from his Heart, he loved the USA and I could see in his eyes he meant every word. What a Man he was and in my heart he will be still singing long after I'm gone. His Music will still LIVE. RIH MH

This might have been before Merle got comfortable being on tv.. Still a great song. One of my very favorite Merle songs, released in 1969 on his album titled, "Pride In What I Am".

Absolutely Love this song surely miss Merle He was The Best or one of The Best Country singers ever !

My Dearly Beloved, and legend of mine, whom thought me, "to take a lot of pride in what I am", He left us for a better place to rest in peace forever, God Bless Merle Haggard.

Great song Merle....I listened to your story (song) as I child living on a beautiful Caribbean island of Nevis.

I can relate to him

I would give my arm to sing like Merle.

“At least I’ve got a title…” Mister

Always Great !

RIP Hag

I've heard him say the he absolutely loved being on stage, and tv.

I really like this song.

The person who disliked this song has no pride.

Ronnie Van Zant fav song

@dacordova yes it is live...the phrasing is different from the record...that's his band playing on both the record and this live "Hee-Haw" version. He sounded just like his records.

And I like Marty robines as well

That's California. Whatever you think about us. That's California.

When live sounded like recording

To respond to previous comments: Merle is clearly singing "live" here. The phrasing is a little different than the record. One of the proofs of this is: he makes a grammar mistake at the end of the song by saying "I take a title" instead of "I got a title" probably because he was thinking of the very next line "I take a lot of pride" This happens to all professional singers at times, no biggie. He is also singing with a track because the music is "dead on" the original recording. This was done and still is done quite a bit when a performer is singing "live" on national T.V. I like this version of Merle's even better than the original recording because he uses a little more reflections in his voice that producers will not let a singer do on a recording.

5 People don't take pride in who they are

I listened again more closely, I apologize....you're correct, this is live.

He also gives his sound man a cue at 0.16 that he wants the mic turned up a bit.

hi, thanks for telling me and i will try to find the episode of HeeHaw and if you know which one it is tell me. thanks, James

Roy Nichols in the background.

That´s for ANNA....

I think he sounds better live.

Great song. Very inspiring. Love Dean Martin's version as well.

hi, this is James and could you tell me how i can get a copy of this or what show that its on , i collect old videos, thanks

Meryl walked on his own two feet. The complete opposite of the caged bird Queen celebrated by so many, who wouldn't let her admirers eat out of her Corgi's Royal dog bowls. Meryl was real. Nobody's fool but his own. A real life is better than a prescribed one.

The man sounds better live what does that tell you.

@gtrjames1 I'm not sure...something about this sounds too "studio". I've seen Merle live many times, doesn't sound like the band is playing live...the music sounds exactly like the record. Have you heard the "Live in Philadelphia" version? Phrasing is completely different.

Maybe it's the music that sounds studio? Your thoughts? Seriously, something about this version doesn't sound live....other than his singing.

..4 folks dont' take a lot of pride in what they are..

4 heavy metal fans... what are you doing on this page ?..

@dacordova I'll admit it does sound studio...the track does sound exactly like the record, but the vocal is not...his phrasing is different here...unless they were using a different vocal track too...He's one of the few that sounds as good as his records anyway. Hee Haw used to do it all kinds of ways...some lip sync, some tracks, and some live.

Why would Merle have to lip sync? This definitely isn't live.