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Ronald Reagan pardoned two country singers while governor of California. Spade Cooley probably should’ve stayed behind bars, and Merle Haggard got a pardon twelve years after getting out.
While an inmate at San Quentin, in 1960, Merle saw Johnny Cash perform and knew he had the goods to change his life too.
“Mama Tried” is mostly autobiographical, save the part about “life without parole.” Merle had a great mom. A mom who reared him without a husband. His siblings turned out okay while he went astray, leaving no-one else to blame, because Mama tried.
From 1968, here’s Merle, with the immortal James Burton, Glen Campbell, Jim Gordon, Bonnie Owens et al, going for a sound he described as, “somewhere in-between Peter, Paul & Mary and Johnny Cash.” They nailed it on the first take, and yep, it hit #1 on the Billboard Country Charts.
It was true for Merle and it’s probably true for most of us. Mama tried to raise us right, but we refused. Hope you all got there eventually. Thanks, Mama.
Discussion (14)
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Haggard held the world record for over thirty years for the largest bar tab when He announced a "round for the house" of C.C. Waterbacks during His concert totaling 5095 of 'em back in 1983 at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, TEXAS.
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They do not make 'em like this anymore.
Glen Campbell is definitely in there. Probably James Burton.
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One of those songs that I sing with Merle and have for 50 years. Great choice.
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Boy, You ain't whistling Dixie.
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...... and BEER.
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