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.
Strangers
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would have bet my bottom dollar on
Well, it sure turned out to be a short forever
Just once I turned my back and you were gone
From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers
I'm all through ever trusting anyone
I was a fool believing in you and now you are gone
It amazes me, not knowing any better
Than to think I had a love who would be true
Why, I should be taken out, tarred and feathered
To have let myself be taken in by you
From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers
I'm all through ever trusting anyone
The only thing I can count on now is my fingers
I was a fool believing in you and now you are gone
The song "Strangers" by Merle Haggard explores the theme of betrayal in a romantic relationship. The first verse starts with the hope and promise of a lasting love that the singer believed in so deeply that they would have bet their last dollar on it. However, this hope is swiftly crushed when the singer turns their back for just a moment, and their lover disappears from their life. The second verse underlines the isolation and distrust that follows such a painful experience. The singer declares that they are now unable to trust anyone, and they are left with only themselves and their memories of the deception.
Overall, the song paints a tragic picture of a love that dies suddenly and without warning. The singer is left to grapple with the aftermath of betrayal and to rebuild their trust in others.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the love you promised would be mine forever
I believed your promise of love, thinking it would last forever.
I would have bet my bottom dollar on
I had complete faith and confidence in your promise.
Well, it sure turned out to be a short forever
But sadly, it didn't last very long.
Just once I turned my back and you were gone
As soon as I let my guard down and turned away, you left me.
From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers
I can't trust anyone anymore, even those who were once close friends.
I'm all through ever trusting anyone
I've learned my lesson and will never trust someone blindly again.
The only thing I can count on now is my fingers
I can only rely on myself, no one else.
I was a fool believing in you and now you are gone
I feel foolish for believing in your promise of love, especially now that you've left me.
It amazes me, not knowing any better
I'm surprised I didn't know any better than to believe in your lies.
Than to think I had a love who would be true
I thought you were the one who would truly love me.
Why, I should be taken out, tarred and feathered
I feel embarrassed and foolish for falling for your lies.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELIZABETH ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Black Fence Cat
I love playing this song. I can relate to the lyrics. Merle Haggard was one of greatest voices in music history.
Chirag Vyas
The way he says "strangers" and the tune at beginning .just makes me hit the replay button on and on
. legend
Dave Wilson
One of the all time best country vocalists ever.
C Synch
Merle ever the outsider still manages to reach your heart in nearly all of his songs. He was the living embodiment of salvation.
Donna Anthony
I know right? My father introduced him to me as a young girl and had all his albums. His tracks are so comforting and at now at 44 yo brings back so many memories for me. My 3 year old son loves Twinkle Twinkle lucky star. ✨✨
Daniel Burns
this song went to #10 on the country charts in 1965!!!
Chained Minds Asylum
The beginning of the greatness of the legendary Merle Haggard ❤️👍🥀💐💜
Hagfan789
One of Merle's first of many great songs off his 1964 album titled "My Friends are Gonna Be Strangers". Merle went on to name his band The Strangers after the record's success.
Analog Man
What an awesome song!
carmen bradshaw
Such a beautiful singer