OldiesButGoodies

Country

Merle Haggard – “It’s Been A Great Afternoon”

Remembering Outlaw Country Icon Merle Haggard, 1937-2016 | Acoustic Guitar

Introduction:

“It’s Been a Great Afternoon” is a song by American country music singer Merle Haggard. It was released in June 1978 as the second single from his album I’m Always on a Mountain When I Fall. The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, becoming his 34th number-one country hit.

The song is a reflective ballad about a man who has spent the afternoon with his lover, reminiscing about their time together and acknowledging that it may be their last. The lyrics are simple and heartfelt, and Haggard’s vocals are both tender and powerful. The song has become a classic of the country music genre, and it remains one of Haggard’s most popular and beloved songs.

“It’s Been a Great Afternoon” was written by Haggard himself, and it was produced by Jimmy Bowen. The song was recorded at Bradley’s Barn in Nashville, Tennessee, with Haggard’s band, The Strangers, providing the backing music. The single was released on June 5, 1978, and it quickly climbed the country charts. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on July 22, 1978, and remained there for one week. The song also reached number 31 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

“It’s Been a Great Afternoon” has been covered by many other artists, including George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Alan Jackson. The song has also been featured in several films and television shows, including The Simpsons and King of the Hill.

“It’s Been a Great Afternoon” is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today. The song’s simple message of love and loss is one that everyone can relate to, and Haggard’s powerful vocals make it an unforgettable listening experience.

Video:

https://youtu.be/BO5PObMULd4?si=LtbNafCYHCxskD5a

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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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