OldiesButGoodies

Country

Merle Haggard – If I could only fly

Merle Haggard - "If I Could Only Fly" (Full Album Stream)

Introduction:

Country music legend Merle Haggard delivered a late-career gem with the release of his 50th studio album, If I Could Only Fly, in the year 2000. Haggard, a prolific singer-songwriter known for his Bakersfield sound and working-class anthems, took a bit of a detour on this album. Produced by Dan Auerbach, then of the indie rock band The Black Keys, If I Could Only Fly marked a return to Haggard’s rawer roots and featured a collection of covers alongside a few new Haggard compositions.

The title track, “If I Could Only Fly”, is a poignant ballad that perfectly encapsulates the yearning for escape and freedom that is a common theme throughout Haggard’s music. The song was originally written and recorded by Texas singer-songwriter Blaze Foley in 1979. Haggard’s rendition injects the song with his signature Bakersfield sound, characterized by its twangy guitars, driving rhythm section, and Haggard’s unmistakable vocals.

“If I Could Only Fly” resonated with critics and fans alike. The album, though not a massive commercial success, peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Country albums chart. More importantly, it was hailed by many as a return to form for Haggard. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that “If I Could Only Fly is the first album in years that deserves to be compared to Haggard’s classic work.” Music critic Robert Christgau echoed this sentiment, stating “After a long, dispiriting string of releases that gradually devolved from hit-or-miss to cynical, he comes out of nowhere on a punk label to cut one of the very best albums of his very uneven recording career.”

While “If I Could Only Fly” wasn’t a chart-topping single, it has become a beloved Haggard track among fans and a testament to his enduring ability to connect with listeners through his music. The song’s themes of longing and escape continue to resonate, making it a timeless addition to Haggard’s vast catalog.

Video:

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Merle Haggard’s childhood was becoming increasingly chaotic when something entered his life that would eventually change everything: a guitar. His older brother Lowell gave him one when Merle was around 12. Merle began teaching himself, absorbing the records and styles of country heroes such as Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams. There were no expensive lessons preparing him for Nashville. There was simply a troubled California kid listening closely and learning how another man’s sadness could live inside a melody. Merle would still make plenty of mistakes. Music didn’t instantly rescue him from running away, juvenile detention or eventually prison. But the guitar remained. Years later, millions would recognize Merle’s voice within seconds. Perhaps that’s because he wasn’t merely learning how to sing songs as a boy. He was slowly learning how to tell the truth about his own life.

Merle Haggard rarely needed to invent heartbreak. He had known it since childhood. In 1946, when Merle was only nine years old, his father, James Haggard, died following a stroke. For a boy who deeply needed his father’s presence, the loss became a turning point. His mother, Flossie, worked to support the family. Merle, meanwhile, became increasingly restless. He skipped school, ran away, got into trouble, and began a long journey through juvenile institutions that eventually led somewhere far darker. Looking back at his life, it is difficult not to see that nine-year-old boy behind many of the adult Merle Haggard’s songs. People later called him a rebel, an outlaw and a survivor. But before any of those labels existed, there was simply a grieving boy who had lost his dad—and never seemed to completely outrun that loss.

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