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 Take a Chance
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you don't want to run around if you want to settle down
I'll take a chance on loving you
[ Bonnie ]
If you will be my very own
[ Merle ]
If you'll be mine and mine alone
[ Both ]
[ Merle ]
There's a lotta pretty girls in this wide wide world
But none of them should hold a life to you
[ Bonnie ]
You're the nicest the neatest the cutest and the sweetest
And I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
[ Bonnie and Merle ]
If you don't want to run around...
[ Bonnie ]
Did you really mean it or did I just dream it when you said I was the one for you
[ Merle ]
Too late to forget it too late to regret it the day that I fell in love with you
[ Bonnie and Merle ]
If you don't want to run around...
The song "I'll Take a Chance" by Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens is a classic country duet that speaks to the idea of settling down with someone and taking a chance on love. The song begins with the phrase "If you don't want to run around, if you want to settle down, I'll take a chance on loving you." This line sets the tone for the rest of the song and is a clear indication that the singers are ready to commit to a serious relationship.
As the song progresses, the lyrics speak to the idea of finding someone special and being willing to take a chance on them. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'll take a chance on loving you," emphasizing the singers' willingness to make a commitment. The verses highlight the qualities that the singers appreciate in one another and suggest that they have found something special in their relationship.
The song ends with a poignant exchange between the two singers, with Bonnie asking Merle if he really meant it when he said that she was the one for him. Merle's response makes it clear that he is fully committed to their relationship, saying that it is too late to forget or regret falling in love with her. Overall, the song speaks to the power of love and the importance of taking a chance on someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
If you don't want to run around if you want to settle down
If you're tired of playing the field and want to settle down with one person
I'll take a chance on loving you
I'm willing to risk falling in love with you
If you will be my very own
If you'll commit to being in a monogamous relationship with me
If you'll be mine and mine alone
If you'll be faithful to me and only me
There's a lotta pretty girls in this wide wide world
There are many attractive women out there
But none of them should hold a life to you
None of them compare to you in terms of importance to me
You're the nicest the neatest the cutest and the sweetest
You're the kindest, most tidy, most attractive, and most caring person I know
And I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
I'll make a promise to you
Did you really mean it or did I just dream it when you said I was the one for you
I need to know if your words were sincere or if I misinterpreted them
Too late to forget it too late to regret it the day that I fell in love with you
I can't change my feelings for you even if I wanted to
If you don't want to run around...
If you're ready to commit to a serious relationship...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUCK OWENS
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...