To move your song (or bourbon) to the front of the list, please bribe us by sending a bottle of bourbon, preferably one we haven't had on the channel yet, to: BCR 484 E. Carmel Dr. Suite 155 Carmel, IN 46032

Got to meet him at our home town fair 2 years before he passed away

Guy, he wrote the song about a fellow San Quinton prisoner who'd become a great inspiration and friend. Merle Haggard is likey the best singer songwriter ever. Johnny Cash changed his life's direction after he saw him perform in prison.

Merle Haggard was from Oildale, California.

Nice one guys. Thanks!

Merle was in and out of jail from a young age. He would train hop. He was an escape artist from jail, until he was sentenced to do time in San Quinton. He had escaped a local jail and tried to rob a roadhouse. He even had a plan to escape from there, but an imate talked him out of it. He was there when Johnny Cash preformed and he knew what he wanted to do when he got out. He has many songs about that life. He was give a full pardon from Governor Regan in 1972. Branded Man Running Kind Lonesome Fugitive on the run

Go and watch 'Live in Austin Texas'. GOLD

My all time favoriteComplete Country ARTIST, writer/singer/guitarist. Check out his life long live performances, much better than his studio cuts✅

Merle is legendary. Many people thought Johnny Cash had been in prison. Johnny was "in prison" to do a concert for the inmates of San Quinton. Merle was in the audience. That was when Merle decided to pursue music instead of a life of crime.

Trumpets are when we are called home

The Poet of the working man,1 of the best ever

Just as an FYI, Chris Stapleton has a song called Death Row that deals with this kind of subject matter too. Pretty different from a lot of his other songs. Live version has killer guitar solo in it if you can find one.

I had was lucky to see him at the Palladium in Carmel

This song is a about a death row inmate going to the death chamber. He was on Death Row, not on a death sentence, but because of punishment. The "hole" for San Quentin was on Death Row. He wrote this song when he was young. He was 20 years old when he went t the pen. He had a chance to escape with, the other escapee told him that if he went with him, that he was going to "hold court on the street." His name was Jimmy "rabbitt" Kendrick. Kendrick came back to San Quentin on a Death Sentence. when Kendrick came back into the prison, they brought him back through the yard. As was the custom to show the other inmates the escapee didn't get far. They walked Kendrick through the yard, the guards were one in front and one in back. They usually walked side by side,. They walk in front of, and in back of condemned inmates. All the inmates knew. merle decided not to go with Kendrick. He robbed a super market in Victorville, shot a Highway Patrol officer and killed him. This song was for Kendrick.

MERLE SPENT TIME IN SAN QUENTIN PASSED AWAY IN 2017

Merle has hits like Babe Ruth.

"you are walking on the fighting side of me" is one you will enjoy.

Try Merle doing The Way I Am.

I don’t know if y’all know this, but Merle spent some time in San Quentin prison and was in the audience when Johnny Cash performed there.

The Hag had a #1 hit with "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink". That should be on your list if it isn't already. I enjoy the channel and the discussion.

Now, you’ve stumbled on a Master Guitarist!!! Must see is: Just Stay Here and Drink - live!

The one song by Merle Haggard I would suggest that doesn't come up enough is Daddy Frank

Check out Okie from Musgokee and Mama Tried by Merle Haggard.

Previous comments have done a good job of listing his songs. But I laughed so hard when he did his impressions of other country singers. I think it was on Glen Campbell's show when he did Johnny Cash, Buck Owen's, and a few others. It was hilarious and showed of his unique vocal ability.

If you only listen to one more Merle song, it HAS to be Mama's hungry eyes!

Enjoyed this reaction. I love listening to Merle. And I say this as not only a country music fan....but an old Headbanger as well. I can listen to Judas Priest, AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden. or Pantera one second and turn on Merle, Hank Williams Sr or Jr in the next second. Good music is good music

Please do Mama Tried by Merle

This is actually a true story from when Merle was in prison

Merle Haggard is definitely an OG and he has a unique view of prison life as he was in Folsom prison when he heard Johnny Cash sing. Johnny Cash mentored and needed him on his way when he got out. Great job guys. Oh before I forget Merle had one more party trick he was an exceptionally good impersonator of certain artists like Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins and if you ever want to just die laughing there is a clip from I believe it was the Buck Owens show where they had Merle impersonating various country western stars and as he was impersonating that star would walk out on stage and pick up from him it is hilarious and the absolute best way to watch his impersonations.

Can you guys please react to This Cowboys Hat by Chris Ledoux

Big City. Are The Good Times Really Over. An Okie From Muskogee.

This is the re-recording Merle made of this song in the 80's. It's still good, but the original late 60's version is the best.

This song reminds me of my Dad who passed away in July 2013. I had a Merle Haggard CD in the truck and when I'd take him to his appointments my Dad would always put it in the player and go right to this song.

Next to Waylon Jennings, Haggard is my second most favorite of all time artist. This song is loosely based on a true event that happened to Merle when he was in prison doing a stint on a burglary conviction. Merle was at the time what some might call State Raised. He had spent much of his early life in juvenile detention and State reform schools before making it eventually to prison. Merle, AKA, the Hag, had escaped from several Institutions that he was held in in his youth. Later while in prison for the burglary case another inmate that was planning an escape had told Merle that there was a piece of furniture or perhaps it was a piano, I don't quite recall, that he had worked on that had a hidden compartment where they both could hide and escape in because Merle wasn't all that big in stature. He had asked Merle to come along due to his prior successful escape attempts. He also let Merle know that if they got discovered he wasn't going to come back and that they would have to kill him. Merle, who only had less than 2 years on his stint, smartly declined to go along with him. Later he heard through the grapevine that that other inmate did in fact escape but not for long and he was shortly gunned down by law enforcement. Merle Later wrote this song about him. That's roughly how I recall Merle telling the story in an interview. Merle wrote a lot of songs about drinking and prison and he was also a very fine picker. He once swindled a drunk Waylon Jennings out of $5000 in a poker game prompting Waylon to never speak to him again and holding Merle in low regard. At least he didn't punch Waylon in the face like a drunk George Jones did. But then Jones would punch anyone in the face when he was drunk. Merle's sons played guitar in his band and have since picked up the torch. I saw him in concert a few times and not long before he passed. Even as he was in poor health from a lung disease he kept performing. He was also very good at doing impressions of other artists. Some if his most notable songs were 'Swinging Doors - 'Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down - I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink - Silver Wing's - and - Mama Tried -one of Merle Haggard's biggest influences was an earlier artist named Lefty Frizzel who he sounds similar to. Merle was also a fan of Jazz and you can here that as well in his later performances. Also, as governor of California, Ronald Reagan granted Merle a full pardon and Merle later played for Pres. Reagan at the White House. The artist Eric Church has a great song called ' Pledge Allegiance to the Hag' about Merle. The Haggard song called 'Working Man's Blue's' has some of Merle's honky tink style picking on it. Also check out the excellent duet he recorded with Willy Nelson on their version of the Townes Van Zant song 'Pancho and Lefty'.

His family moved from Oklahoma to California for work, like many Oklahoma families did back in the day. They called them Okies as a derogatory term.. Later he wrote Okie from Muskogee and it went to the top and is still a big hit today.

This is not the original version of this song. The trumpets at the end were wrong, you are correct. The original has a slower tempo. I sit at the dinner table, drink bourbon and play solitaire in my underwear, just like Shotgun Willie. But I am Panama Red. Anyway happy trails, and fine cocktails.

I grew up listening to Merle. He is a fantastic singer and musician.

Wonderful pick!!! Love these classic country hits. There's just something about them that's unique and soothing to listen to. I enjoy all genre's of music, but usually end up listening to the 70-90s country artists. Thanks!!!

When younsay back on the couch I knew you got it. That's what Merle does for me. I want to sit back, drink my beer and completely relax. You felt it.

Like the many many songs the hag wrote and performed this was a true story of an event that happened when he was in prison at San Quentin perhaps you don't have to live a rough life to be a great country music artist but it sure as heck helps Merle was the real deal rip

Merle has a great voice, please check out Okie from Muskogee.

Credit info Wiki- "Sing Me Back Home" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in November 1967 as the first single and title track from the album Sing Me Back Home. The song was Merle Haggard and The Strangers third number one. The single spent two weeks at number one and a total of 17 weeks on the country chart.[1] In 2019, Rolling Stone ranked "Sing Me Back Home" No. 32 on its list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time.[2]

Okie from Muskogee is my favorite of his.

My. daddy used to play Merles Songs for my momma on the guitar . My momma loved Merle she always said he looked like my. Daddy and he did in ways

Merle could easily be the picture of OG in the dictionary. Okie is a great one. My mom had an 8 track of Merle. I can still remember the click of the channels. Forever embedded in my brain when singing along. LOL

Merle has a lot of good songs and as others have said he served time in San Quentin prison, Mama tried is a good song and Okie from Muskogee

For some awesome musical talent try Earl Scruggs and Friends- Foggy Mountain Breakdown

I saw him as part of a triple bill with Willie Nelson and Ray Price. Great classic country music. A few suggestions from Merle, Mama Tried and Fighting Side of me

Wow, it's been a while since I heard this. Talk about a legendary country singer. He, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willie Nelson, these guys are in a class by themselves.

Two of my favorite Merle Haggard songs are: Leonard Daddy Frank I enjoyed your reaction to this one. Roger Millers Green Green Grass of Home is on a similar theme.

I was in my 20's in the 90's when I moved to Nashville (not to sing or play) but I met so many talented people and really discovered older country, I mean singer band members were very friendly and it wasn't unusual to meet Tammy Wynette George Jones Merle Haggard, Johnny Paycheck and I LOVED them coming from loving pop rock or hair rock. but one singer i feel is SO underrated is Vern Gosdin

Please do Eric Church Lightning!!!!!!

Another great death row song is Eric Church's Lightning. It's the song that got him signed to his record deal.

how do i send you a bottle when i m bring told sending alcohol thru the mail is illegit eagal

It’s actually kinda funny but Billy Ray Cyrus has a great cover of this lol

Are the Good Times really over and Big City are both good songs by Merle Haggard

You should check out the song When You Leave That Way You Can Never Come Back by Confederate Railroad. It’s about a guy who at every step in life makes the wrong choice.

Awesome song Merle Haggard was one of the best. Y'all should hear Luke The Drifter. Stories are the best

Randy Travis had a song called 'Send My Body Home,' which has got to be the most upbeat song about wrongful execution that I ever heard.

He was born and raised in Oildale, California. This song makes me cry. I add bourbon to the mix, I'll be a blubbering mess. Merle was one of the greats. If he got right with his maker, angels are right. The bourbon is pretty but not a mossy log fan 😂 a keto ol' fashion...🤣🤣🤣

Johnny Cash is the one that convinced Merle to be honest about being in prison. Johnny told him that if Merle admitted to bring in prison the gossip papers would leave him alone. They would have.no ammo.

It’s always struck me as funny that he really got his start in music when he heard Johnny Cash performing at Folsom Prison while he was an inmate at the time. So it gives his songs, like this, a lot deeper meaning. “The Hag” is a true OG and very well respected, especially in the Outlaw Country era. Great review guys!

Merle’s song writing is second to none. For the Merle you review you should react to his live from Austin City Limits to appreciate his talent on guitar and fiddle. He was an amazing musician as well as my favorite of all the OG’s. Suggestions are Swingin’ Doors, The Farmers Daughter, What Am I Gonna Do? Silver Wings. R.I.P. Merle 💔♥️♥️

merle would like to here chris stapleton TENNESSEE WHISKEY FROM YOU FELLARS

original is better