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.
If You've Got The Money
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have mercy on a guy that's gonna miss you
I know you're in a hurry
But consider all the hurt I'm going through
Let me brace my heart so I can face the part
That I've been dreading for so long
Then I promise I won't cry till you're gone
I know a man should never show his feelings
And I should pretend I'm glad you're leaving
If you've got time to say goodbye
Have mercy on a guy that's gonna miss you
I know you're in a hurry
But consider all the hurt I'm going through
Let me brace my heart so I can face the part
That I've been dreading for so long
If you've got time to say goodbye
Then I promise I won't cry till you're gone
The lyrics of the song “If You've Got Time” by Merle Haggard reflect the pain and agony of a man who is asking for a few moments of consolation from his lover as she leaves him. The opening line “If you've got time to say goodbye, have mercy on a guy that's gonna miss you” portrays the desperation and fear of the man who knows that his lover is leaving him, but asks for a little bit of consideration and compassion as he prepares to face the pain of being abandoned.
In the subsequent lines, the man pleads with his lover to understand the extent of the hurt he is going through, saying “But consider all the hurt I'm going through, let me brace my heart so I can face the part that I've been dreading for so long.” He acknowledges the societal expectations of masculinity and the need to hide one’s emotions, saying “I know a man should never show his feelings, and I should pretend I'm glad you're leaving.” However, he goes against these norms and opens up to his lover, begging for her to grant him a moment of kindness by allowing him to say goodbye properly, promising not to cry till she is gone.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are a powerful reflection of the fragility of human emotion and the pain that comes with heartbreak. The man’s vulnerability and the plea for a little bit of empathy from his lover are heartfelt and relatable to anyone who has experienced the pain of losing someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you've got time to say goodbye
If you have some time, please tell me you're leaving
Have mercy on a guy that's gonna miss you
Please be kind to me, I will miss you a lot
I know you're in a hurry
I understand you're busy and have a lot to do
But consider all the hurt I'm going through
Please think about how much pain I will feel
Let me brace my heart so I can face the part
Allow me to prepare myself emotionally for what's to come
That I've been dreading for so long
I have been avoiding this moment because it terrifies me
Then I promise I won't cry till you're gone
I promise not to cry until you have left my sight
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAGGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lynn costner
greatest singer in the history of mankind bar none,keep it strong HAG
thedjmic
Love the Hag....greatest of all time.
laslos3
merle and lefty go together like cash and jennings! true country gosple!
buddyzroadie
Thank you longtall! Brings back a lot of good memories. Much appreciated, thanks again!
Becky Stone
This song kicks butt. It is so great.
Dane Glasoe
lefty frizzell has the best version IMO but I love the HAG
Gary Allen
Hey Merle We're Still Here in 2020 and we Still Love You.
Chauncey Griffith
awesome
Charles chase
Luuvv this video. Luv this song!
Paxton Fortner
Oooooo i like this song. It reminds me of my grandpa.