America - song by Waylon Jennings | Spotify

Introduction:

Waylon Jennings’ “America” is a poignant tribute to the United States, released in 1984 as the first single from his compilation album “Waylon’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2.” Penned by Sammy Johns, the song resonated with Jennings’ distinctive outlaw country style, capturing the hearts of many Americans.   

While the song doesn’t delve into specific historical events or figures, it paints a broad picture of the American experience. The lyrics evoke a sense of pride and nostalgia, celebrating the country’s vast landscapes, diverse people, and enduring spirit. Jennings’ soulful vocals, combined with the song’s melodic arrangement, create a powerful and moving anthem.

“America” was a commercial success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It remains a popular choice for patriotic events and gatherings, serving as a reminder of the nation’s rich history and shared values. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect with listeners on a personal level, evoking feelings of love, gratitude, and hope for the future.

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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.”