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.
Bonnie & Clyde
Merle Haggard Lyrics
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Clyde Barrow was the rounder that took her away
They both robbed and killed until both of them died
So goes the legend of Bonnie and Clyde
The poems that she wrote of the life that they led
Told of the lawmen left dying or dead
Some say that Clyde made her life a shame
The rampage grew wilder with each passing day
The odds growing smaller with each getaway
With the end growing closer, the harder they fought
With blood on their hands, they were bound to get caught
They drove back from town on one bright summer day
When a man they befriended stepped out in the way
With no thought of dyin' they pulled to the side
But death lay there waiting for Bonnie and Clyde
Two years or runnin' was ended that day
For robbin' and killin' they both had to pay
But we'll always remember how they lived and died
So goes the legend of Bonnie and Clyde
The lyrics to Merle Haggard's song Bonnie & Clyde tell the tragic story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, two infamous American criminals who were notorious for their string of robberies, murders, and general outlaw behavior during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Bonnie and Clyde were both young and in love, and their passionate and violent relationship played out on the national stage, cementing them in American folklore as a dangerous and iconic duo.
The lyrics describe Bonnie as a simple waitress who was swept away by the charming but troubled Clyde, and the two of them embarked on a crime spree that would lead to their eventual demise. The poems that Bonnie wrote documented their exploits and were filled with tales of violence and revenge against the lawmen who tried to catch them. The lyrics suggest that Clyde was responsible for leading Bonnie down a path of shame, but it was Bonnie who ultimately became the head of the game, immortalized as a notorious outlaw in the public imagination.
The song is a haunting tribute to the tragic story of Bonnie and Clyde, whose lives ended in a hail of bullets on a bright summer day. Despite their ruthless behavior and the harm they caused to others, the legend of Bonnie and Clyde continues to captivate people to this day, a testament to the power of the human spirit and the allure of forbidden love and adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Bonnie was a waitress in a small cafe
Bonnie was a restaurant server in a small cafe.
Clyde Barrow was the rounder that took her away
Clyde Barrow was the gambler who took Bonnie away from her work.
They both robbed and killed until both of them died
They both stole and murdered until they both perished.
So goes the Legend of Bonnie and Clyde.
This is how the Legend of Bonnie and Clyde goes.
The poems that she wrote of the life that they led
The songs she wrote about their life.
Told of the lawmen left dying or dead
They spoke of the police left dying or dead.
Some say that Clyde made her life a shame
Some claim that Clyde disgraced her life.
But the legend made Bonnie the head of the game.
However, the legend made Bonnie the leader.
The rampage grew wilder with each passing day
Their violent behavior grew more intense every day.
The odds growing smaller with each get-a-way
The chances of them getting away shrunk with each attempt.
With the end growing closer the harder they fought
As their demise became inevitable, they fought even harder.
With blood on their hands they were bound to get caught.
The authorities were sure to apprehend them with their history of violence.
They drove back from town on one bright summer day
On a sunny summer day, they returned from their town.
When a man they befriended stepped out in the way
A man they had made friends with blocked their path.
With no thought of dyin' they pulled to the side
Without any care for their own lives, they moved to the side.
But death lay there waiting for Bonnie and Clyde.
Unfortunately, death was waiting for Bonnie and Clyde in that moment.
Two years or runnin' was ended that day
Their two-year run ended that day.
For robbin' and killin' they both had to pay
As they had been robbing and killing, they both had to face the consequences.
But we'll always remember how they lived and died
But the world will always remember what they did and how their story ended.
So goes the Legend of Bonnie and Clyde.
This is how the Legend of Bonnie and Clyde ends.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BONNIE OWENS, MERLE HAGGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Earl Black
Wow, I was 12 when this came out. His voice was so different back then, compared to his voice before his passing. May this great country star never be forgotten by the new younger generations. I'm certain he's Resting in Peace after all he's done for country music.
keith schultz
He will be though. Before his passing he was very distraught over the direction country music was going in. He turned out to be right because it is where he said it would end up.
ginny white
one reason is because he had part of his lung removed because of cancer
Mary Cagney
Great song
Daniel Burns
this song went to #1 on the country charts in 1968!!!
William B
Well as it should have Merle Haggard was an excellent singer
Hagfan789
Just a great song written by Merle & Bonnie, originally released in 1968 on Merle's " The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde" album.
Matthew Kuykendall
Real country music. Listen to anything on country radio today and decide for yourself if it sounds authentic
Jack Pardun
All the real country musicians stopped being born 40 years ago
Jack Pardun
Most have sadly died... except willie. He will live forever.