OldiesButGoodies

Country

Merle Haggard – “Everybody’s Had The Blues”

Introduction:

“Everybody’s Had the Blues” is a classic country song written and recorded by the legendary Merle Haggard and his band, The Strangers. Released in June 1973 as the third single from the album “I Love Dixie Blues,” the song quickly became a hit, reaching the top spot on the U.S. country singles chart for two weeks and spending a total of fifteen weeks on the chart. It also enjoyed minor success on the pop charts, peaking at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.   

The song’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its relatable lyrics and Haggard’s powerful vocal performance. The lyrics explore the universal experience of sadness and heartbreak, acknowledging that everyone goes through tough times. Haggard’s distinctive voice, filled with emotion and authenticity, brings the song to life, resonating with audiences of all ages.

“Everybody’s Had the Blues” is a live recording, capturing the energy and excitement of Haggard’s live performances. The song’s arrangement is simple yet effective, with Haggard’s guitar and the band’s backing instruments providing a solid foundation for his vocals. The result is a timeless classic that continues to be enjoyed by country music fans around the world.   

Merle Haggard himself was a complex figure with a troubled past. Born in Bakersfield, California, in 1937, he spent time in juvenile detention and prison before finding success as a country music singer-songwriter. His music often reflected his own experiences, drawing on themes of love, loss, and the working class. “Everybody’s Had the Blues” is a testament to Haggard’s ability to connect with his audience on a deeply personal level.

Video:

https://youtu.be/j4xdvUkWDQ8?si=YmriHViCRPBgwqsg

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THE LAST TIME THE CROWD ROSE FOR MERLE HAGGARD — HE WOULD NEVER WALK ONSTAGE AGAIN. They carried him through the doors wrapped in the very flag he once sang about — and in the stillness that followed, there was something almost audible… a fragile echo only lifelong listeners could feel in their bones. Merle Haggard’s story closed the same way it opened: unpolished, honest, and deeply human. From being born in a converted boxcar during the Great Depression to commanding the grandest stages across America, his life unfolded like a country ballad etched in grit, regret, resilience, and redemption. Every lyric he sang carried the weight of lived experience — prison walls, hard roads, blue-collar truths, and hard-earned second chances. Those who stood beside his casket said the atmosphere felt thick, as if the room itself refused to forget the sound of his voice. It wasn’t just grief in the air — it was reverence. A stillness reserved for someone whose music had become stitched into the fabric of ordinary lives. One of his sons leaned close and murmured, “He didn’t really leave us. He’s just playing somewhere higher.” And perhaps that’s the only explanation that makes sense. Because artists like Merle don’t simply vanish. They transform. They become the crackle of an AM radio drifting through a late-night highway. They become the soundtrack of worn leather seats and long stretches of open road. They live in jukebox corners, in dance halls, in quiet kitchens where memories linger longer than the coffee. Somewhere tonight, a trucker tunes in to an old melody. Somewhere, an aging cowboy lowers his hat and blinks back tears. And somewhere in that gentle hum of steel guitar and sorrow, a whisper carries through: “Merle’s home.”

Gene Watson – Dreams Of A Dreamer Gone Blind

On April 6, 2016 — the very day he turned 79 — Merle Haggard took his final breath after calmly telling his family, “Today’s the day.” No dramatic hospital chaos. No public spectacle. Just a man who had always lived on his own terms choosing to meet the end the same way. His departure was as deliberate and unshaken as the outlaw spirit that defined him. While the world mourned, Haggard exited quietly — steady, self-possessed, unapologetically himself. And though his voice fell silent that day, it never truly faded. Through songs like “Sing Me Back Home,” his legacy still echoes — raw, haunting, and impossible to forget.

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THE LAST TIME THE CROWD ROSE FOR MERLE HAGGARD — HE WOULD NEVER WALK ONSTAGE AGAIN. They carried him through the doors wrapped in the very flag he once sang about — and in the stillness that followed, there was something almost audible… a fragile echo only lifelong listeners could feel in their bones. Merle Haggard’s story closed the same way it opened: unpolished, honest, and deeply human. From being born in a converted boxcar during the Great Depression to commanding the grandest stages across America, his life unfolded like a country ballad etched in grit, regret, resilience, and redemption. Every lyric he sang carried the weight of lived experience — prison walls, hard roads, blue-collar truths, and hard-earned second chances. Those who stood beside his casket said the atmosphere felt thick, as if the room itself refused to forget the sound of his voice. It wasn’t just grief in the air — it was reverence. A stillness reserved for someone whose music had become stitched into the fabric of ordinary lives. One of his sons leaned close and murmured, “He didn’t really leave us. He’s just playing somewhere higher.” And perhaps that’s the only explanation that makes sense. Because artists like Merle don’t simply vanish. They transform. They become the crackle of an AM radio drifting through a late-night highway. They become the soundtrack of worn leather seats and long stretches of open road. They live in jukebox corners, in dance halls, in quiet kitchens where memories linger longer than the coffee. Somewhere tonight, a trucker tunes in to an old melody. Somewhere, an aging cowboy lowers his hat and blinks back tears. And somewhere in that gentle hum of steel guitar and sorrow, a whisper carries through: “Merle’s home.”

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