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.
Silver Wings
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining in the sunlight
Roaring engines
Headed somewhere in flight
They're taking you away
And leaving me lonely
Silver wings
Slowly fading out of sight
Don't leave me, I cried
Don't take that airplane ride
But you locked me out of your mind
And left me standing here behind
Silver wings
Shining in the sunlight
Roaring engines
Headed somewhere in flight
They're taking you away
And leaving me lonely
Silver wings
Slowly fading out of sight
Silver wings
Shining in the sunlight
Roaring engines
Headed somewhere in flight
They're taking you away
And leaving me lonely
Silver wings
Slowly fading out of sight
Slowly fading out of sight
The song "Silver Wings" by Merle Haggard is about the pain and loneliness of separation. It tells the story of a man who is watching a plane take off with someone he loves, and he is left behind. The silver wings of the airplane shine in the sunlight as it roars into the sky, leaving the man alone and deserted. He pleads with the person to stay and not take the airplane ride, but it is too late. The person has already locked the man out of their mind and left him standing alone.
The silver wings represent the hope and excitement of a new journey, leaving behind the past and moving forward. However, for the man left behind, they represent only heartache and loneliness. The use of the phrase "slowly fading out of sight" emphasizes the pain of separation as the plane moves further and further away until it is out of sight, leaving the man alone with his memories.
Overall, "Silver Wings" is a heart-wrenching song about the pain of separation and the lasting emotional impact it can have on the ones left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Silver wings
The airplanes that take the person away from the singer.
Shining in the sunlight
The sunlight reflecting off the airplanes' metallic surface.
Roaring engines
The loud noise made by the engines powering the airplanes.
Headed somewhere in flight
The intended destination of the airplanes.
They're taking you away
The airplanes are transporting the person away from the artist.
And leaving me lonely
The singer is left feeling alone and abandoned due to the person's departure.
Silver wings
Reiteration of the airplanes that take the person away.
Slowly fading out of sight
The airplanes are gradually disappearing from view, symbolizing the person's departure from the artist's life.
Don't leave me, I cried
The artist pleads for the person not to leave them behind.
Don't take that airplane ride
The artist requests for the person not to board the airplane and leave them alone.
But you locked me out of your mind
The person has mentally disconnected from the singer and already made the decision to leave.
And left me standing here behind
The artist is left alone and abandoned, as the person has left without them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Merle Haggard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Judy Evans Parker
I can remember my mom singing this all the time when my father was in Vietnam. He was killed in there in 1969. Everytime she heard it she cried. I just lost her in June 2022. She never stopped loving my father even though she had alzheimers
Danny Lee
I remember hearing this while stationed in Saigon and danang. Popular song for guys close to going back home. When I hear it now brings back a lotof memories. Sorry tohearaboutyour loss.
G W
😓
Guy Morris
Thank you to your father for his courageous service.
Paul Quinn
Judy Evans Parker
That's so sad. Hope you're keeping well and what a great song to remember your mum and dad with.
Ken Dobson
Love never dies, my heart goes, out to, you and your family my friend. I, am 54, from the UK and love this song! A Beautiful Song can, and will cross all oceans, if you listen, and are kind xxx
Sondra Marshall
My husband passed away two weeks ago. He loved country music and we enjoyed going to the concerts. I love this song by Merle Haggard and it's helping me get through this sad time.
Paul Rolf
So sorry for your loss
Elvis Presley Remembered
May music continue to comfort you during this time of loss. Peace be with you.
Linda Growcock
@Elvis Presley Remembered z