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've Got A Tender Heart
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You lied when you said you'd treat me fair
Don't you know you heard me when you're made to me
I've got feelings and you don't seem to care
I'm rough and I'm rowdy, I'm tough and I'm smart
And I've got a tender heart
I know you think I'm strong enough to stand the pain
I'm rough and I'm rowdy, I'm tough and I'm smart
But I've got a tender heart
I know you think I'm strong enough to stand the pain
I'll get over you and make a brand new start
I'm rough and I'm rowdy, I'm tough and I'm smart
But I've got a tender heart
In Merle Haggard's song "I've Got A Tender Heart," the singer uses contrasting images to express his emotions. In the first verse, he describes how the person he trusted did him wrong, and how their actions have hurt him. He expresses his vulnerability by saying that he has feelings and that the other person doesn't seem to care about them. Yet, in the following verses, he reaffirms that he is tough and smart enough to get over the pain and start anew. However, he still reminds the other person that he has a "tender heart" underneath his rough exterior.
The song discusses the pain of betrayal and the challenge of moving on. It touches on the fact that people often have deeper emotions than they let on and that being vulnerable is not a weakness. The lyrics suggest that despite the singer's resilience, he still has a soft side, and that he needs the other person to acknowledge his pain.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of betrayal and the aftermath of trying to pick up the pieces. It is a reminder that even when people appear strong, they can still be deeply hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
You did me like someone you had it in for
You treated me with malice and ill-will, as if you had a personal vendetta against me
You lied when you said you'd treat me fair
You deceived me by making promises you had no intention of keeping, specifically to treat me with fairness
Don't you know you heard me when you're made to me
Your actions and words have caused me emotional pain that should be obvious to you
I've got feelings and you don't seem to care
I am a sentient being with emotions that you are disregarding and do not value
I'm rough and I'm rowdy, I'm tough and I'm smart
I have a tough exterior and am intelligent
And I've got a tender heart
However, despite my outward appearance, I am emotionally sensitive and easily hurt
I know you think I'm strong enough to stand the pain
You may believe that I am able to handle emotional pain, but that does not justify your actions
I'll get over you and make a brand new start
Despite the hurt you have caused, I will move on and start anew without you
I'm rough and I'm rowdy, I'm tough and I'm smart
Again, I may appear rough and strong, but I still have a deep emotional side
But I've got a tender heart
And you should not underestimate or dismiss my emotional vulnerability and sensitivity
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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...