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.
I'll Sign My Heart Away
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I sign the papers that will set you free
But to part this way is to my sorrow
My heart will break to see them take your love from me
I'll tell my friends I'm glad that it's all over
But when I do I'll wipe the tears away
You'll smile and take the hand of your new lover
I'll take the blame, give back your name you wanted
He's done you wrong, I'll hear the lawyers say
But they'll never know how I'll be haunted
After tomorrow when I sign my heart away
The lyrics of "I'll Sign My Heart Away" by Merle Haggard tell a story of a man who is about to sign divorce papers. He is resigned to the fact that his wife is leaving him and there's nothing he can do about it. The pain of letting her go is evident in the lyrics. He knows that he will have to sign his heart away to set her free, and he'll do it even though it breaks his heart.
The first verse reveals that the man will sign the papers in court tomorrow to set his wife free. However, he knows that this will be a terrible loss for him. He is in agony at the thought of losing the love of his life. He mentions that he'll smile and tell his friends that he's glad it's all over, but deep down, he'll be heartbroken.
The second verse is more emotional. He talks about taking the blame, giving back her name that she wanted, and hearing the lawyers say that the other man has done her wrong. But this doesn't ease his pain. He knows that he'll be haunted by the loss of her love for the rest of his life. He is helpless and can only watch as his wife takes the hand of her new lover. It's a sad and poignant song.
Overall, "I'll Sign My Heart Away" is a powerful ballad that expresses the pain and sorrow of losing someone you love. The lyrics convey a sense of helplessness and resignation, as the man knows that he has to let her go but can't bear the thought.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll sign my heart away in court tomorrow
I will finalize our divorce settlement tomorrow
When I sign the papers that will set you free
When I sign the legal documents that will allow you to move on from our marriage
But to part this way is to my sorrow
I am sad that we have to end our relationship like this
My heart will break to see them take your love from me
It will hurt me to see you with someone else
I'll tell my friends I'm glad that it's all over
I will pretend to be happy that our marriage is ending
But when I do I'll wipe the tears away
But in reality, I will be crying
You'll smile and take the hand of your new lover
You will move on and be with someone else
After tomorrow when I sign my heart away
Once the legal documents are signed and the divorce is finalized
I'll take the blame, give back your name you wanted
I will admit fault for the end of our marriage and allow you to keep your maiden name
He's done you wrong, I'll hear the lawyers say
The lawyers will blame our divorce on my actions
But they'll never know how I'll be haunted
But they will never understand the emotional pain and regret that I will feel
After tomorrow when I sign my heart away
Once the legal documents are signed and the divorce is finalized
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HANK THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kjb1611tw
so pure so joyful thank Jesus
Jason Rongpi
The beautiful song I heard someone singing in my childhood @12yrs.
Messiah Apostle
DADDYGOD, I Am right here listening for My Name. Thank YOU Darling JESUS.
LuAnne Baker
I am so glad you have shared this music thank you
Dawn Strydom
LOVE IT
Joanne Mercader
old school AWESOME
cynthia Erickson
Why can't todays country go back to its roots and start producing pure country music instead of todays hiphop,soft pop wanna be country thats produced now.this is real then country
Kenny Dobbins
There are still a few traditional style artists.
Carol Evans
Yes love old school .....oh my I am old school
Rebecca Echols
Me too