Tuesday, October 11, 2011

TFT: Merle Haggard


Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world.  For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion.  Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.


Mama Tried
Merle Haggard
The first thing I remember knowin’
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’
And a young-un’s dream
Of growin’ up to ride
On a freight train leavin’ town
Not knowin’ where I’m bound
No one could change my mind
But mama tried

One and only rebel child
From a family meek and mild
My mama seemed to know
What lay in store
Despite all my Sunday learnin’
Towards the bad I kept on turnin’
‘Til Mama
Couldn’t hold me anymore

And I turned twenty-one in prison
Doin’ life without parole
No one could steer me right
But mama tried
Mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better
But her pleadin’ I denied
That leaves only me to blame
‘Cause mama tried

Dear old daddy rest his soul
Left my mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard
To fill his shoes
Workin’ hours without rest
Wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right
But I refused

And I turned twenty-one in prison
Doin’ life without parole
No one could steer me right
But mama tried
Mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better
But her pleadin’ I denied
That leaves only me to blame
‘Cause mama tried


Leonard
Merle Haggard
When Leonard finally came to California
He was twenty-one years old as I recall
He loved to write a song and pick the guitar
And he came to hang a gold one on the wall

The town in which he lived is not important
But you’ll know which town I mean
By the time I’m through
He soon became a famous entertainer
But Leonard was a name he never used

He was on his way to havin’ what he wanted
Just about as close as one could be
Hey
Once he even followed Elvis Presley
And he wrote a lot of country songs for me

But he laid it all aside to follow Jesus
For years he chose to let his music go
But preachin’ wasn’t really meant for Leonard
But how in the Hell was Leonard supposed to know

Well life began to twist its way around him
And I wondered how he carried such a load
He came back again to try his luck in music
And lost his wife and family on the road

After that he seemed to bog down even deeper.
And I saw what booze and pills could really do.
And I wondered if I’d ever see him sober.
But I forgot about a Friend that Leonard knew

Well Leonard gave me lots of inspiration
He helped teach me how to write a country song
And he even brought around a bag of groceries
Hey
Back before Muskogee came along

Really
I’m not tryin’ to hide his show-name
Or the town in which this episode began
Somehow I had to write a song for old Tommy
If just to see the smilin’ faces in the band

When Leonard finally came to California
He was twenty-one years old as I recall
And he loved to write a song and pick the guitar
And he came to hang a gold one on the wall

Lyrics From: [Cowboy Lyrics]

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8 comments:

  1. Are you sponsored by the 'Aged Pretend Cowboy Music Shop' by any chance?
    You can come into the 20th century if you like.

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  2. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Adullamite!!! A less civilized gentleman might have something to say about your mama about now.

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  3. She's wrong - love the Merle Haggard - blast from the past. sandie

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  4. I don't mind listening to old Merle. Nice to know you can hold your tongue and not insult Adullamite's mama :) Oh and by the way I welcome Adullamite into the 21st century...lol

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  5. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Sandie!!! Words cannot adequately express just how much I appreciate that comment. I just wish I could have been there when HE read it.

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  6. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Lavender!!! Well, I don't think very many would have ever considered him pretty, but the trials and tribulations that he has had to endure most definitely have left their marks.

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  7. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Ann!!! He is as serious as anyone ever has been about being an old Scot. Hence, he will just continue to get more and more cantankerous, and be very proud of it.

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