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.
Look Wat Thoughts Will Do
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Lefty Frizzell - Jim Beck - Dub Dickerson)
« © '50 Peer International, BMI »
Once I thought I loved just you and I thought you loved me too
But today you say we're through now just look what thoughts will do
Now another wears the crown and you think that you have found
Just what makes your world go round watch those thoughts they'll get you down
Then you'll think of me I'm sure but those thoughts won't help you dear
Once I thought I loved just you...
Once I thought I loved just you...
In Look What Thoughts Will Do, Merle Haggard interprets Lefty Frizzell, Jim Beck, and Dub Dickerson’s song about the power of thoughts. The song is about the consequences of wrong thoughts, how thoughts affect emotions and actions, and how they can shape a person's life. The lyrics suggest that thoughts and emotions often drive people's actions, and when those thoughts are centered on negativity, it can lead to ill actions and negative consequences.
In the first verse, the singer reminisces about a past love that he thought was true, but things have turned sour, and the two have separated. The phrase "just look what thoughts will do" refers to the power of the mind and its ability to shape reality. The singer goes on to alert the listener to be mindful of their thoughts, advising them that dwelling on negative thoughts will lead to negative results. For instance, the words "watch those thoughts they'll get you down" suggest that negative thoughts can lead to depression or other mental health issues.
As the song concludes, the singer warns his former lover that if her current relationship leads to heartbreak and tears, she will remember him, but those memories won't be of any help to her. The song indicates that people should be careful about what they think to avoid undesirable results.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I thought I loved just you and I thought you loved me too
At some point, I believed that my feelings for you were true and genuine, and that you reciprocated those feelings for me.
But today you say we're through now just look what thoughts will do
However, today you informed me that our relationship is over, which highlights the power of our thoughts and how they can blind us to the truth.
Now another wears the crown and you think that you have found
You have moved on to another person, thinking that they are the one who completes you and makes you happy.
Just what makes your world go round watch those thoughts they'll get you down
Be careful of your thoughts, because they can lead to disappointment and heartbreak when reality hits and your expectations aren't met.
And if within your future years your new love should bring you tears
If in the future, the new person you think you love causes you pain and distress, then you will regret leaving me.
Then you'll think of me I'm sure but those thoughts won't help you dear
You may remember me and what we once had, but it won't change the situation or fix the problems in your current relationship.
Once I thought I loved just you...
I once believed that my love for you was all-encompassing and everlasting, but now I realize that my thoughts were clouded with false hopes and illusions.
Once I thought I loved just you...
Once again, I must reiterate that my feelings for you were not permanent, and that I have moved on from our past together.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anne White
Lovely version of Lefty's great song, Not sure which one I prefer, I love both of them. Thanks for posting this !!!
joaquin ybarra
Sounds to me , like this song
Brought much joy to
Mr Merle
Thank U Sir,
God Bless U N
Family 4 Ever
Your voice has always brought
Me much JOY N Comfort,
Still Missing You N your Poet ❤️
Pondy Hsu
Once I thought I loved just you
And I thought you loved me too
But just look what thoughts will do
For today you say we're through.
Now another wears the crown
And you think that you have found
Just what makes your world go round
Watch those thoughts they'll get you down.
************
If within your future years
Your new love should bring you tears
Then you'll think of me I'm sure
But those thoughts won't help you, dear.
Thought I'd build a home for two
Just a home for me and you
Thought we'd have some kiddies too
But just look what thoughts will do.
*************
Now I know just how you feel
That your love was never real
Guess to you I don't appeal
So we'll just forget the deal.
So goodbye and here's to you
And I'm happy through and through
Yes, you thought that I'd be blue
But just look what thoughts will do.....
Gary Dalton Ole Country Music
Great song
harrydean bentzel
Damn. Hag had jack russells forever man. He's a loyalist. Like me w/Aust. shepards