Haggard was born in Oildale, California, during the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled after the death of his father, and he was incarcerated several times in his youth. After being released from San Quentin State Prison in 1960, he managed to turn his life around and launch a successful country music career. He gained popularity with his songs about the working class that occasionally contained themes contrary to the prevailing anti-Vietnam War sentiment of much popular music of the time. Between the 1960s and the 1980s, he had 38 number-one hits on the US country charts, several of which also made the Billboard all-genre singles chart. Haggard continued to release successful albums into the 2000s.
He received many honors and awards for his music, including a Kennedy Center Honor (2010), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2006), a BMI Icon Award (2006), and induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1977), Country Music Hall of Fame (1994) and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame (1997). He died on April 6, 2016 — his 79th birthday — at his ranch in Shasta County, California, having recently suffered from double pneumonia.
Haggard's last recording, a song called "Kern River Blues", described his departure from Bakersfield in the late 1970s and his displeasure with politicians. The song was recorded February 9, 2016, and features his son Ben on guitar. This record was released on May 12, 2016.
Haggard endorsed Fender guitars and had a Custom Artist signature model Telecaster. The guitar is a modified Telecaster Thinline with laminated top of figured maple, set neck with deep carved heel, birdseye maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets, ivoroid pickguard and binding, gold hardware, abalone Tuff Dog Tele peghead inlay, 2-Colour Sunburst finish, and a pair of Fender Texas Special Tele single-coil pickups with custom-wired 4-way pickup switching. He also played six-string acoustic models. In 2001, C. F. Martin & Company introduced a limited edition Merle Haggard Signature Edition 000-28SMH acoustic guitar available with or without factory-installed electronics.
Always Late
Merle Haggard Lyrics
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Won't you come to my arms, sweet darling, and stay?
Always late with your kisses
Why, oh why, do you want to do me this way?
How long do you think I can wait
When you know you're always late?
The song "Always Late" by Merle Haggard is a poignant tale of a lover who is tired of waiting for his partner's affections. Haggard's evocative lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that has lost its passion and excitement. The singer is pleading with his lover to show up on time and be present in the relationship. The repeated refrain, "Always late with your kisses," underscores the theme of time and delay in the song.
The lyrics encapsulate the feelings of confusion and hurt that come with a relationship that is no longer fulfilling. The singer is at a loss as to why his lover is behaving this way, and he cannot understand why she continues to be late. He pleads with her to come to his arms and stay, but he knows that her consistent tardiness is a sign that she is not as invested in the relationship as he is.
In conclusion, "Always Late" is a moving and relatable piece that speaks to the universal experience of waiting for love that never arrives. It is a song about the pain of rejection and the struggle to make sense of a relationship that has lost its spark.
Line by Line Meaning
Always late with your kisses
Your kisses don't come on time
Won't you come to my arms, sweet darling, and stay?
Please come to me and stay awhile
Always late with your kisses
Your kisses are still late
Why, oh why, do you want to do me this way?
Why are you treating me this way?
How long do you think I can wait
I can't wait forever
When you know you're always late?
Especially when you know you're always late?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Blackie Crawford, Lefty Frizzell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bronzebuck64
You people stop bashing the great Johnny Cash. Merle and Johnny were both great in their own way. That booming baritone of Johnny Cash was very inspirational to many Country singers-and talk about staying power-he had hits from 1955 to the 2000's.Respect him in here. Love ya Merle.
@signalenergie
You can't love the USA without loving Country music.
@scottweindegher
Country music is my life.. #Real country
@andrewnorris1514
Where did you hear that?
@broganmoffet7173
I'm a huge hag fan but there were lots of great old time singers. They make the singers of today look like children
@markive9907
Merle ,Bonnie ,Ronnie Reno ,sound so good together .❤️👍
@conniegordon2465
Merle was amazingly talented, in more ways than one.
@lisa.rebelwise2700
Thank. You. God. For. The man. Merle. Haggard. !!! Touched. My life. Everyday. !!!
@KernriverMerle
Merle, come to Europe again, please! xD I was 7 yrs old in 1978., didn't even know who this great singer was...The BEST.
@martybeeman1688
Everyone's got an opinion; Mine is simply both Willie and Merle are great musicians in their own right, and I love the both of them. I lean more towards merle because I love to mimic him in singing his songs. We both have the same range as far as vocals high and lows, I sound just like him, I've been told! (Which is good, I wouldn't want to hack it up!) I love his music and sing some of his songs that most people won't sing. In my opinion, he is one of the best World Class Musicians of all times, we all go back a long way. God rest his soul!