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.
Where Have You Been
Merle Haggard Lyrics
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They're still out there, but where have you been?
You better get busy, start calling them in
'Cause they still love you, but where have you been?
You better get friendly and keep all your friends
If you wanna be loved, you gotta give in
Pick up the pieces, start over again
You better get friendly, keep all your friends
If you wanna be loved, you gotta give in
Pick up the pieces, start over again
Your friends still love you, but where have you been?
In Merle Haggard's song "Where Have You Been," the message is clear – don't neglect your friends, keep them close and appreciate them. The lyrics urge listeners to take a look at their lives and reflect on where they've been and where they're going. The repetition of the phrase "but where have you been?" emphasizes the importance of staying connected with the people in your life.
The first verse prompts the listener to look around and realize that their friends are still around even though they may have lost touch. The second verse advises them to start reaching out and calling their friends back in. The chorus drives home the idea that if you want to be loved, you need to make an effort to keep your relationships strong. The final verse encourages listeners to start over and pick up the pieces, reminding them that their friends are still waiting for them.
Overall, "Where Have You Been" is a reminder to not take your friendships for granted and to put in the effort to maintain them. The song is a timeless message that holds true today as it did when it was first released.
Line by Line Meaning
Look around you, look at your friends
Take a good look at the people around you who care about you and have always been there for you
They're still out there, but where have you been?
Your friends haven't gone away or abandoned you, but you have been absent or distant lately
You better get busy, start calling them in
It's time for you to take action and reach out to your friends, rather than waiting for them to come to you
'Cause they still love you, but where have you been?
Your friends haven't stopped caring about you, but they're wondering where you've been and why you haven't been around
You better get friendly and keep all your friends
To maintain your friendships, you need to be open, available, and willing to put in the effort to stay close to your friends
If you wanna be loved, you gotta give in
To receive love and support from others, you must be willing to reciprocate and show them that you care
Pick up the pieces, start over again
If there have been problems or distance between you and your friends, it's time to acknowledge the issues and work together to rebuild and improve your relationships
Your friends still love you, but where have you been?
Once again, the song emphasizes that your friends haven't stopped caring about you, but they are concerned about your absence and want you back in their lives
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jimmy Ray
on Carryin' Fire
I'm a co-writer on this song and the lyrics are not quite right here. Instead of the word high it should be higher. The last verse is A moth slowly circles the flickering candle, the fire is all it can see...