Thank you Townes Van Zandt for writing this great song

What I find so cool about this clip is that Hag sings Willie's part and he let's his fiddle player Scott Joss cover Merle's part. What a fine example of Merle being generous to others and knowing what that meant to Scott! God forever Bless this man....RIP Mr. Haggard!

After all Merle went through with his dad passing away and his many times in jail just to mention a couple, This guy had some inner God given strength not many of us possess. My sister used to adore Merle when I was a kid and I thought The Beatles were King. Nowadays I listen to Merle and rarely The Beatles. He had it!

This song tells more than a story. It is multi-interpretable and very symbolic. Love the lyrics and love this performance by The Hag.

Back in 1972 when I was 14, I decided Merle had a voice as smooth as good bourbon. As I started playing in garage bands I so wanted my voice to sound like his. Now, 50 years later with this song on my set list, I still don't sound anything like Merle, but I know his spirit is with me. Thank you Jesus for giving us this man that you now have blessed with eternal life, according to Romans, Chapter 8.

I get emotional when I listen to Merle's music

I'm near the end of my time here, and I'm glad to have grown up with some of the world's best singers and musicians. I look forward to seeing them in heaven. The Lord's choir will be glorius.!

I learned this song on my guitar for a Pandemic Project. It took me a month to put it all together. Now it's permanently implanted in my brain. I love how Merle sings it.

Merle obviously was a legend.. this was 2 years before he died and it showed. I'll always remember him and Willie's version as the definitive one that folks will remember... this one is sad in a way..

Brings back some beautiful memories of the 60s-70s in Houston dives where they all played those smaller venues! I love this music to my core...brings a smile to my face and a skip to my heart!

Wow 😲, my heart ❤️👍 is so proud of this man! Thank's merle! RIP you earned that right!

Geez!! What a classic! Whomever is responsible for this… GOD BLESS YOU!!!❤️❤️❤️

Merle was wonderful. A beautiful Townes Van Sandt song. Thank you. Roy in Knoxville Tennessee

My uncle lived in Bakersfield CA and knew Merle as a young man playing in the bars in the late 50's, early 60's, and back then Bakersfield was an outlaw town, rough and no place for the Justin Beibers of the world! lol He told me some good stories about them days and even showd me the places he played. Both of them good men, both gone. RIP

A LEGEND I LOVE THE WAY HE TELLS THE STORY ABOUT WILLIE AND THE SONG

Thank goodness we have these videos of Merle so we can still enjoy the talent this man had. RIP okie

From an American Treasure as we start the new decade. The genius of Merle Haggard.

Simply the best that's ever been!

Not only does his music reach the common man but his storytelling does too! Great, great artist and as I have stated before, of all the artists we recognize by a single name, Merle leads the pack!!!!!

RIP Merle ... the world has lost an original

One of my favorite Townes Van Zandt songs.

was there and had us rolling!!! not just a singer and songwriter but stories behind the music!! I got my tickets to his postponed concert for Ryman for August. I know I'll get refund but honestly if it came down to refund and having to give back the unused tickets or keeping tickets, I'd bite the $280 means that much to me!!! It was a privilege to get to see him in concert several times and most memorable was at the Grand Ole Opry with Willie and Ray Price!!! Merle your music will live on forever in my heart and always on my radio. Every time I listened to you was a favorite memory of mine!!! R.I.P. COUNTRY ROYALTY

Merle was simply the best singer, story-teller of them all. He is sorely missed in this world, though I have no doubt he is in a "better place" now.

Man we need these type of musicians again. Real passionate raw and in your face. Just a cool performance

This country needs your prayers it's true; but save a prayer for Merle Haggard too. May Merle's voice always ring clear and true with the stories that he told. God Bless Merle Haggard!

Wish GOD,would've let Merle,hang around another Decade,or so. But I'm Thankful GOD,gave us Merle Haggard,and the years he Blessed us with him. Could you Imagine Country Music ,without him ? Can't. Merle lives in the Presence of a King-Jesus.

I really liked Meryl Haggarrds music, awesome 👌

oh man, i love this tune !

LOVE SOME MERLE

Merle was a treasure, we miss him

This is GREAT! What an entertainer! I love you Merle! 😎

What a song and what a great voice, smoothie!♥️😔🧚🏻‍♂️

Merle is my favorite singer.....

This was great, Merle. RIP, we miss you.

After accidentally watching a documentary of history of American Country music beginning from the Carter Family to Johnny Cash , willie Nelson , Merle Haggard and so on . I'm instantly hooked to the sound of country music , I was born in the 60's Philippines , grew up hearing Rock music no country . Now greying I'm tired of hearing the noisy rock music , I'm looking for something mellow but not pop music , as soon as I watched that documentary and featured all the Country music superstar I fell in love with the sound. Haggard's life was featured and showed that he was a troubled man in his younger years in fact went to jail and inside he was recruited by another inmate to escape prison but the night before they escaped the inmate advised him not go with them and rather stay and finished his sentence telling him that he had a bright future for his song writing skills , Haggard didn't escaped prison and later said, that was the best decision I ever made in my life , the leader of the escapees was shot dead days later. It was a fascinating story . Now I love country music , still exploring other artists ;-))

I miss Townes songs but they live on though outer great artists. Don't forget Guy Clark he and Townes were good friends. Rodney? look it up you'll find him in there too.

Does anyone else know that governor Ronald Reagan pardoned him...and he got out of prison and he was forever grateful till the day he died

A minha música preferida já ouvi dez vezes hoje parabéns linda

I wish he mentioned Townes in this even though they did find out about the song through Emmylou Harris (who I named my beautiful yellow lab after...rip). Regardless, glad for the underdog being recognized by one of the top country artists. He did a great cover of Blaze Foley's "If I Could Only Fly". Late, greats covering songs by late, greats. Beautiful. I hope their legacies won't be forgotten because of Nashville's...downfall. I would've loved to meet and play with all of these legends.

Pure perfection. RIP Merle,

Will Never Forget this SONG, I Have The Album. "LOVE IT".🎸🎵🍺😻😍🎹🎺🎤🎙🔈🔉🔊🔉🎸

Thank you for this great song. Merle was fNtStic3 on it. Love him

Willie and The Hag did Townes Van Zant mighty proud... Townes was a superb writer

EMMYLOU HARRIS VERSION OF TOWNES BEAUTIFUL SONG IS CLASS . MERLE HAGGARD A GREAT STORY TELLER

I was at this show. My only time I saw the Hag. Thank you so much for posting this.

A cathedral of music. Like the Opry there is no other places on earth where these stories can be told or performed. Amazing!

RIP Merle & happy bday. Salud y vaya con dios

I would have loved to seen Merle Haggard in person. But I never got too. I truly wish I could have. He was for sure my hero as a young man.And he still is. And always will be.

Bless your heart for capturing this, and uploading it for all of us to enjoy. Thank you.

Great live performance.

Message for Mother's day: Being a good mother can make you a saint. Hope you enjoy a beautiful day and rejoice to receive the recognition you deserve. To love is to obey. To have faith is to trust. To be sane is to be a saint. Equivalent terms: Love and obedience. Faith and trust. Saint and sanity. Sanity is walking in truth and love with Jesus.

RIP Merle. Thank you!

Wouldn't be that hard to mention Townes as the writer!

So proud Merle played my Amphitheater 2 times..the Greatest..

Oh my God the Best music in the World

A MILLION THANX.

Thank you mintaburst for posting this

Willie always carried a fantastic cook and he charcoals everything back stage and ole Willie wouldn’t eat anything. Lol but his band did. “ Townes Van Zant wrote it.

Love Merle Haggard and his son Scott!!!

Love me some Merle Haggard! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Viva merle haggard ajua love DIOS lo tenga en el cielo

Thanks for posting this.. I was in the audience, but it's great to relive it here.

Country music can't beat it

tell me a today song that has anything like this soul...the story is timeless....

Miss you Merle!

O i miss all the old good times

Did anyone else see "young Merle" come back out during this song?

Great song ~ Great artist ! ~ !

Great song! Hello type in "Ron Howard Cover" listen to Opie sing "the Dance"! R.I.P. Merle. To all of us who have lost loved ones life goes "that fast" and we will see them again "that soon"!

I miss Merle!!!

You damn right

One of the best

Brilliant Song

Merle really did this song ture justice!

মেক্সিকোর মরুভূমিতে পাঞ্চো ছিল দস্যু ছেলে, তুমি বিদায় বললে সে কাঁদতে লাগল এবং ডুবে গেল তোমার স্বপ্নে ... 👍🎸💓 Lyrics: Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron Your breath as hard as kerosene You weren't your momma's only boy, but her favorite one it seemed She began to cry when you said goodbye And sank into your dreams Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel He wore his gun outside his pants For all the honest world to feel Pancho met his match, you know, on the deserts down in Mexico Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that's the way it goes All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away, out of kindness, I suppose Lefty, he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows All the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose The poets tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty's livin in cheap hotels The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold And so the story ends, we're told Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too He only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old ll the Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose few gray Federales say, they could've had him any day They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose

I really miss that guy.

Love em

Didn't know Merle was such a decent guitar player. Add that to brilliant singer and songwriter!

He always be my hero

Ive watched this video several times to the point i can almost word for word his intro and story of Willie waking him up but i still laugh everytime i watch it again and this happens to remain one of my favorite tunes both these characters recorded its still amazing he had no recollection of putting the tracks down yet i guess that’s why they are the Outlaws in the early 80s i was going to college near the town i graduated high school in South Florida and a classmate knew i had some music and Band history and asked me if i could give him a hand that Friday evening for setting up and breaking down a show for David Crosby i was paid in free drinks and to watch the performance Stage side truth be told when i did go back stage to new introduced to Mr Crosby he shook my hand and thanked me for helping out his crew In my Opinion he appeared to be so wasted on booze and drugs that i didnt think he could actually perform a full set but Wow was i wrong he was escorted to the stage and even a barstool up there given a Acoustic guitar in tune and my God did that man rock out by the end of the second verse of the first song he was in his Zone and never left it untill the last song my position of watching the show was i could see the Setlist on his floor monitor and aside from some story telling he stayed on track i beleive the man is extremely talented as a Musician / songwriter and I plan on being a forever fan why i tell that story is i would bet that he has no recollection of that evening or gig because of whatever he was on at that time I’m no expert But my guess He was tripping by the moves and his speach as growing up in Florida ive witnessed many people on Acid and they all sort of have a nervous kind of a twitch going on almost a paranoia thing that someone is out to get them the last stranger i met on the beach thought i was a a Federal Marshall untill i showed him my wallet contents and no badge or gun i was like man calm down I’m just like you on my way home from partying all night and he got cool LOL

If Merle ain't the best he sure as hell is in the conversation.

Love it❤

I was at this show! Amazing night and he sounded so good. Loved this story.

Also a top shelf impressionist

Very, very, very good.

Love this.. 🐝 Been up for 5days . Doing what you do, Then 5in the morning.. This is the Fuckn bomb.. Lil bunny Morse 🐰.. Mcclanville SC. Gentleman smugglers..

Merle you were the best sjnger of all your boys are folling in your Foot steps.

Great blessings

Merle , another Champ

Since I saw Merle last time, I've been looking for a live version where his fiddle / guitar player Scott Joss sings it with him. Thanks for posting!

Great

One of life’s regrets that I never saw Merle in concert

Real country!

Written by Townes van Zandt

excellent ty

Oh wow, I love this story it’s real life ...

Gotta luv it

Seriously Merle & Willie, Townes van Zandt did realy good writing this song. Can one of you for once give the kid credit fer chrissakes?

One step at a time we finally get there, not unless the good lord takes us to that shinny gold filled place in the sky.

Only a true outcast outlaw can due justice to this wild song~