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.
The Bottle Let Me Down
Merle Haggard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
I've always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I've been turnin' every day
But the wine don't take effect the way it used to
And I'm hurtin' in an old familiar way
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down
Tonight the bottle let me down
Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down" is a classic country song that depicts a man who relies on alcohol to cope with the pain of a lost love. The lyrics tell the story of a man who leaves the bar after every night of drinking without feeling any pain at closing time. However, on the night in question, he's sober enough to remember his former lover. In this song, he complains that drinking liquor no longer provides the same solace it once did. With the absence of his steadfast companion, the bottle, the man realizes that he'd never find anything to replace the affection and companionship he has lost.
The chorus of the song highlights the theme that the bottle, which was once his closest friend, has betrayed him this time. He acknowledges that he has always had a bottle he could turn to, but lately, it doesn't have the same effect. While the instrumentals give the song an upbeat tempo, it has a sad meaning that speaks to heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. The man is trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol, but it's not enough. The lyrics suggest that he is still haunted by her memory and he is hurting in an old familiar way.
The song is a reflection of Haggard's personal experiences, having spent time in prison, struggling with alcoholism, and grappling with the death of his father at a young age. The somber tune struck a chord with audiences, making it one of Haggard's most famous songs. The Bottle Let Me Down" was one of Haggard's 38 number one country tracks. The song has been covered by several musicians, including The Mavericks, Keith Richards, and Vince Gill. It's a timeless tune that has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with country fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Each night I leave the bar room when it's over
I leave the bar when it's closing time
Not feeling any pain at closing time
I don't feel any pain because I'm so drunk
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
But tonight I'm not drunk enough because I can't stop thinking about you
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind
I can't drink enough to forget about you
I've always had a bottle I could turn to
I've always relied on alcohol to deal with my problems
And lately I've been turnin' every day
Recently, I've been drinking every day to cope with my emotions
But the wine don't take effect the way it used to
But alcohol doesn't work the way it used to soothe me
And I'm hurtin' in an old familiar way
And I'm feeling a pain that's all too familiar
Tonight the bottle let me down
Tonight, alcohol failed to help me forget my troubles
And let your memory come around
And let your memory haunt me instead
The one true friend I thought I'd found
I thought alcohol was the only friend I had left
Tonight the bottle let me down
Again, tonight, alcohol didn't help me escape my problems.
Tonight the bottle let me down
Tonight, like many other nights before, alcohol wasn't my solution.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Merle Haggard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sachin Jain
Each night I leave the bar room when it's over
Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down
I've always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I've been turnin' every day
But the wine don't take effect the way it used to
And I'm hurtin' in old familiar ways
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down
Tonight the bottle let me down
bluebird
I met Merle and got his autograph when I was 17. 1971. We saw him in a small restaurant before his show in Corpus Christi. We were petrified to approach him but me and my friend did. He was seated with two guys. He was exactly like you would think. We were not an intrusion to him. He gave us the autographs and said, 'Thank you, boys.' Class act and absolutely no doubt, one of the greats.
The psycho
I would have loved to have got to hear Merle Hagard in concert. Back then I spent to much time working and not enough time enjoying life.
Susan Lightfoot
@Alfonso Hernandez
Susan Lightfoot
@Alfonso Hernandez
Scott
That's awesome
Kennynva KE4HVE
My question is ..do you still have it.......?????
Wade Hedger
I truly love this man. I grew up listening to him, my sister teased me because I always sang along. She said I sounded like a rooster crowing out of tune.
Patricia Slocum
Sorry Wade. Hope you practiced. I'm sure you sound better now.
craig kleber
This era of Country was the greatest storytelling songwriting ever
Taylor Layne
I'm proud to say, I'm a 17 year old female, and I was definitely raised right. Raising me up on this music was probably the best thing my parents ever did. I love Merle, Waylon, Hank Jr, Earl Thomas Conley, & more. Proud Georgia Peach. <3