132 Comments

"Momma Tried"

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They don't make 'em like that anymore. At least Willie's still hangin in there.

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Or play Uneasy Rider by the Charlie Daniels Band...

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A good man gone. When I've been exposed to contemporary ("hit" "radio") "country" music, I've often re-inoculated with Haggard's "Momma Tried" usually paired with Paycheck's very similar "Only Hell My Momma Ever Raised".

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Oh my, we dirty fucking hippies had a *field day* with "Okie from Muskogee" back in the day. We sang it in mockery of the closed-mind mindset it seemed to represent. But as the years went on, Merle Haggard revealed more of himself through his music. And I came to respect him more and more. Thanks for all the great music, Mr. Haggard, and I'm sure you'll always be on the short list for command performances in heaven.

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Yeah, but talents like Hank, Sr.'s, are sadly rare, so on balance we came out ahead. Kinda said we had dessert first and we're looking at a greasy plate of heartburn, but... way of the world, I guess.

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Definite props from me for this one, though:

'"Irma Jackson" is a song by Bakersfield, California-based outlaw country artist Merle Haggard, released on his 1972 album Let Me Tell You About a Song. The song, which was about the then-controversial topic of an interracial romance, was actually written several years prior to 1972, but not released at first because Capitol Records thought it would hurt Haggard's image at the time.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

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I remember smoking hash with the boys when that Okie song came out.

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A testament to smoking weed if there ever was one.

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Lately Charlie has exposed himself as an old redneck. Although I do still like Long Haired Countryboy.

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Damn, that even rhymes. I like mine better, though.

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The only difference between Merle and the other felons who have set foot in the White House is that Merle got caught and was convicted. Several of Pres. Harding's cabinet were blatantly corrupt. His Secretary of the Interior actually went to prison. His Attorney General was notorious for graft. I won't even discuss Nixon.

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A once-in-a-lifetime talent. Can't knock George Jones, but for those of us who prefer Bakersfield to Nashville, the greatest country singer ever. I was fortunate enough to enjoy a lovely afternoon in Golden Gate Park not long ago with an entire meadow full of people lighting up to "Okie" and passing joints up to Merle -- who cheerfully accepted them and passed them along to Kris Kristofferson, who could make better use of them.

Happy trails, Merle.

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I know Willy & Waylon better than Merle. Yea I know Merle's big stuff but none of his b sides. I tell ya, them stars, they is just droppin' like flies now, eh?

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I propose we declare Brother Merle an honorary Wonket on the strength of this tune:https://www.youtube.com/wat...

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