RIP Merle Haggard

[Wizzard]

Another legend gone. Loved his stuff 

[GiG]

Did some shows with him 15 - 20 yrs ago.
He died on his 79th birthday.
RIP

[msb]

Heard he was ill. .... an all time favorite of mine, left a legacy of outstanding songs and performances. Saw him live here in BC several times both in the middle of his career and later...outstanding shows. RIP Hag 

[Valkorado]

He was a great one.  RIP Okie from Muskogee.

Leaving this here.  For all the Bernie supporters.   

"The Fightin' Side Of Me"

I hear people talkin' bad,
About the way we have to live here in this country,
Harpin' on the wars we fight,
An' gripin' 'bout the way things oughta be.
An' I don't mind 'em switchin' sides,
An' standin' up for things they believe in.
When they're runnin' down my country, man,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.
If you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

I read about some squirrely guy,
Who claims, he just don't believe in fightin'.
An' I wonder just how long,
The rest of us can count on bein' free.
They love our milk an' honey,
But they preach about some other way of livin'.
When they're runnin' down my country, hoss,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.
If you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.
If you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

[Patrick]

Thats sad to hear. He was one of the good guys.

[FLAVALK]

We've already lost too many legends this year 

RIP Merle

[Alpha Dog]

The guy took the country music scene by storm in late 60's and early 70's and always did it his own unique style and substance.    Whenever one hears the name Merle it is Mr. Haggard they think of.

RIP  Merle  you deserve it.

[msb]

Did some shows with him 15 - 20 yrs ago.
He died on his 79th birthday.
RIP

So that's why your handle GIG I presume...you are a performer or sound tech? Working with the Hag is a pretty good gig that's for sure.

[Mike M in ohio]

     As a senior in High School, 1973, my best friend and I got hooked on Haggard's sound, message and pro-American themes. Of course, 98% of our classmates were into rockers of a different bent.
     Merle was appearing in New York City, so we ditched school, bought some beer (Actually, paid extra for someone older to buy it) and hopped on the Long Island RailRoad, wearing our well worn cowboy hats. We assumed that no one would learn of our fan-driven deceipt.
     On the ride into the big apple, we drew the attention of a reporter for the area's biggest newspaper, Newsday. (After all, we stood out like sore thumbs being the youngest fans  on the specially scheduled Merle Haggard Country train)
     Of course, the next day, two seventeen year old idiots were featured in a half page photo, on page two of Newsday, holding up their beers, with stogies in their mouths, with their many thoughts on the Okie from Muskogee. Despite the response from parents, teachers and friends.....it was worth all the trouble to hear Merle croon for two inspirational hours.
     God Speed Merle.

[Hoser]

Momma tried    Hoser

[old2soon]

Take This Job and Shove It.  We have a C & W station right here in Willow and that's where I heard this sad news.    They said Today and 2moro would be a tribute to Merle Haggard.  He and others helped me while away a LOT of overnight hours when I was drivin truck! R I P Merle. RIDE SAFE.

[Cracker Jack]

Take This Job and Shove It.  We have a C & W station right here in Willow and that's where I heard this sad news.    They said Today and 2moro would be a tribute to Merle Haggard.  He and others helped me while away a LOT of overnight hours when I was drivin truck! R I P Merle. RIDE SAFE.

"Take This Job And Shove It". Wasn't that Johnny Paycheck?? ???

[czuch]

So sad.The Hag is a legend.
 I got to see him 4 times.
Once I convinced a hard core rock and roll friend of mine to go. He went for the laughs.
He met a girl at the concert and married her  a year later. Still goin strong.

Ttjasi was Johnny Paycheck.

[Wizzard]

Take This Job and Shove It.  We have a C & W station right here in Willow and that's where I heard this sad news.    They said Today and 2moro would be a tribute to Merle Haggard.  He and others helped me while away a LOT of overnight hours when I was drivin truck! R I P Merle. RIDE SAFE.

"Take This Job And Shove It". Wasn't that Johnny Paycheck?? ???

Yes it was Johnny Paycheck

[tjohnson]

R.I.P. Merle

Great fiend of mine has been his right hand fix it man for the last 10 years. He got the spousal unit and I right up on the stage with his family (just slightly behind the curtain) while Merle and Kris Kristoferson performed at the Rosemont in Chicago a few years ago. However besides the spousal unit almost mowing Merle down as we entered, the most talked about event of the evening was the spousal unit and Justin Timberlake's photo session. We have 4 daughters that just adore Justin, so the photo is more of a symbolic thing for the wifey, not me.

For the little time we had to spend with Merle, he was very pleasant and quite comical.

[Billinva]

Back in the early 1980's I was driving cross country in my MGB. I stopped for gas and a hitch hiker asked for a ride.  He seemed like a nice enough guy. Later we stopped, and I bought him lunch. After a couple of hours of conversation we turned on the radio.

Merle Haggard was on. The hitch hiker said, "I've always liked ole Merle. I spent a year and a half in San Quentin with Merle." My thoughts ran wild for a minute or so. He had stolen some heavy road equipment and got caught selling it.

He was broke and headed west to visit his daughter. After several hundred  more miles I let him out at a truck stop. When he got out I slipped him $25, and he teared up.

It was an interesting drive.

[LTD]

Top five all time greatest country singer easy. Even the greatest who ever lived George Jones idolized Merle.  Was looking forward to seeing him again here in Houston in a couple of months.  Real country music might have died with Merle. RIP Hag.

[Hef]

Unique sound and a great song writer. Always been one of my favorites. Had the privilege to actually meet him after a show at Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Mo. some years ago. Seemed like the type of guy it would fun to be friends with. RIP Merle.

[mugmarine]

The Hag!!!! Sing me back home. R I P...

[Serk]

RIP to a very wise and insightful man...

[old2soon]

Take This Job and Shove It.  We have a C & W station right here in Willow and that's where I heard this sad news.    They said Today and 2moro would be a tribute to Merle Haggard.  He and others helped me while away a LOT of overnight hours when I was drivin truck! R I P Merle. RIDE SAFE.

              Right genre Wrong artist!  And It's Still R I P Merle.

[J.Mencalice]

Real country, real music, real writing, real man.
Take care, Merle.  Thank you for being here.
Rest from "the road" well traveled.


http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_29736566/merle-haggard-revered-country-singer-common-man-anthems-dies-at-79

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/entertainment/country-music-legend-merle-haggard-dies-at-79/2016/04/06/115ec48e-fc4a-11e5-813a-90ab563f0dde_video.html

[The emperor has no clothes]

Something I found interesting about him that I didn't know.
http://www.adn.com/article/20160409/merle-haggard-hit-it-big-he-followed-his-heart-fairbanks?utm_source=Alaska+Dispatch&utm_campaign=ece33da19d-mailchimp_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0facd10a14-ece33da19d-246839021

[Wizzard]

thank for sharing,, did not know that