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.
Good Old American Guest
Merle Haggard Lyrics
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Put a slouch hat down low on my ears
I'm yearning to leave this old town
On the flight and loose all my troubles and cares
In this day of airplanes and highways
Hey the slow way is sometimes the best
I'm longing to ride on a freight train
And be a good old American guest
I've loved and I've labored for
And spend a few days headed west
I'm longing to ride on a freight train
And be a good old American guest
Well the pressures of life they got to me
And they got down and deep in my soul
I'm tired of the rat-race
want to go back to the slow pace
And hear a fast train rattle and roll
I want to live out my days like a hobo
And take myself that long-needed rest
Hey, hey I'm longing to ride on a freight train
And be a good old American guest
Yes I want to live on the land that
I've loved and I've labored for
And spend a few days headed west
I'm longing to ride on a freight train
And be a good old American guest
Oh, yes I'm longing to ride on a freight train
And be a good old American guest
The lyrics to Merle Haggard's song "Good Old American Guest" speak to a longing for a simpler way of life, away from the pressures of modern society. The singer wants to ride on a freight train, donning a slouch hat and leaving behind his troubles and cares. Despite the prevalence of airplanes and highways, the singer believes that the slow way is sometimes the best. He wants to live on the land he has loved and labored for, and spend his days headed west, living like a hobo and taking a long-needed rest.
The song is a tribute to the American spirit of adventure and individualism, harkening back to a time when the journey was just as important as the destination. The singer is not interested in luxury or convenience, but in the freedom to live life on his own terms. The lyrics are a reminder that sometimes the simple things in life can bring the greatest joy and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm longing to ride on a freight train
I have a strong desire to travel on a train that carries goods and not passengers.
Put a slouch hat down low on my ears
I would like to wear a hat that covers my ears and is pulled down low on my head.
I'm yearning to leave this old town
I really want to depart from this town that I've been in for a while.
On the flight and loose all my troubles and cares
I want to be free from all my worries and responsibilities while traveling.
In this day of airplanes and highways
Today, people are mostly traveling by planes or roads.
Hey the slow way is sometimes the best
Sometimes, taking the slower way of transportation is the better choice.
Yes I want to live on the land that I've loved and I've labored for
I would like to reside on the land that I have cherished and worked hard for.
And spend a few days headed west
I want to travel westward and spend some days there.
Well the pressures of life they got to me
I have been feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of everyday life.
And they got down and deep in my soul
These pressures have affected me on a deep emotional level.
I'm tired of the rat-race
I am exhausted from the constant competition and hurry of modern life.
want to go back to the slow pace
I desire to return to a more leisurely and unhurried way of living.
And hear a fast train rattle and roll
I would like to listen to the sound of a train moving quickly and smoothly.
I want to live out my days like a hobo
I want to spend my remaining days living like a homeless and wandering person.
And take myself that long-needed rest
I am in need of a lasting break to rejuvenate myself.
Oh, yes I'm longing to ride on a freight train
I'm really eager for the opportunity to travel again aboard a train that carries goods.
And be a good old American guest
I would like to be a good visitor and enjoy the company of the other people on the train.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAGGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jimmy Ray
on Carryin' Fire
I'm a co-writer on this song and the lyrics are not quite right here. Instead of the word high it should be higher. The last verse is A moth slowly circles the flickering candle, the fire is all it can see...