OldiesButGoodies

Country

“The Worst Is Yet To Come” by Merle Haggard

The Worst Is Yet To Come - Remastered - song by Merle Haggard | Spotify

Introduction:

Merle Haggard’s “The Worst Is Yet To Come” is a poignant country ballad that delves into the depths of heartbreak and despair. Released in 1965, the song quickly became a fan favorite and a staple of Haggard’s live performances.

The song’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man consumed by grief and longing. The narrator expresses his overwhelming sadness and anticipates even greater pain in the future. The haunting melody, combined with Haggard’s raw and emotional vocals, perfectly captures the song’s melancholic tone.   

“The Worst Is Yet To Come” was written by Casey Anderson and Liz Anderson, a songwriting duo known for their ability to craft heartfelt and relatable songs. The song’s universal theme of heartbreak and loss has resonated with audiences for decades, solidifying its place as a classic in the country music canon.   

While the song’s specific origins and recording details may vary depending on the source, its impact on country music is undeniable. “The Worst Is Yet To Come” remains a testament to Merle Haggard’s enduring legacy as one of country music’s greatest storytellers and vocalists.

Video:

https://youtu.be/9GnoTAHWm5E?si=9nV0YmQcOK-jVVCi

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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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