Merle Haggard

[fox69]

"As Time Goes By"

"As Time Goes By"


You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say: "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs, never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Woman needs man and man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs, never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Woman needs man and man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by...

 

[fox69]

"Back To The Barrooms Again"

"Back To The Barrooms Again"


Now it's back to the barrooms right back to drinking again
Maybe someday you'll love me enough to stay with me
And whisky won't be my best friend
Now it's back to the barrooms again.

The bartender knows me he knows how you do me
And he knows why I'm back here again
He should be given a prize for his patience
'Cause bartenders do understand
So it's back to the barrooms again.

With the loud music roaring the bartender pouring
And my shaky legs trying to stand
It's over and over I've tried to stay sober
But look what a failure I've been
'Cause now it's back to the barrooms again.

Yes, now it's back to the barrooms right back to drinking again
Maybe someday you'll love me enough to stay with me
And whisky won't be my best friend
Now it's back to the barrooms again.

Oh yes, it's back to the barrooms again...

 

[fox69]

"Bad Actor"

"Bad Actor"


I've never been much at making believe*
Don't have any tricks hidden up my sleeve.
If life is a comedy, where's all the laughter?
'Cause here on the stage I'm a bad actor.

I don't know what you want me to know.
So I'll take the small parts in our family show.
Tell me which hero you want me to play.
How should I feel, and what do I say?

Pretending to care, pretending to cry.
You say I'll be there, and I say I'll try.
Second hand feelings are always a factor,
In my staring roll as a bad actor.

Please let me know what you want me to see.
Where do you want me to be?
In this old mirror, I'm just a reflection,
But I might be brilliant if you'd give direction.

I have a problem of knowing what's real.
All my emotions I borrow and steal.
Faking my way through every day,
And trying to act like it's better that way

Pretending to care, pretending to cry.
You say I'll be there, and I say I'll try.
Second hand feelings are always a factor,
In my staring roll as a bad actor.

 

[fox69]

"Because You Can't Be Mine"

"Because You Can't Be Mine"


What makes something you can't have always look so good
Why'd do something out of reach seem so fine
What makes you thrill me more than any girl I know
I guess it's just because you can't be mine.

Why can't I be contented with what belongs to me
And be satisfied with what's already mine
What makes a stolen moment such a precious thing
I guess it's just because you can't be mine.

What makes me always want a woman I can't have
Why the someone else's silver always shine
My patience rises every time you come around
And I guess it's just because you can't be mine.

Why can't I be contented with what belongs to me
And be satisfied with what's already mine
What makes a stolen moment such a precious thing
I guess it's just because you can't be mine...

 

[fox69]

"Better Off When I Was Hungry"

"Better Off When I Was Hungry"


I read they're havin' rain in California
And Lord I hope that you're not gettin' wet
That's the only way on earth I have for knowin' how you're doin'
When you left you said you call but you ain't yet.

And I think I was better off when I was hungry
And fightin' off the wolfs from our front door
But I wrote this song and it came on strong and left you once too often
Now I think I was better off when I was hungry.

My guitar brought us here to Bonmat Texas
And I bought you everything your eyes could see
But the mansion couldn't hold you could nobody's arms to warm you
I guess I gave you everything but me.

And I think I was better off when I was hungry
And fightin' off the wolfs from our front door
But I wrote this song and it came on strong and left you once too often
Now I think I was better off when I was hungry...

 

[fox69]

"Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)"

"Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)"


In the town of Louisville they got a man called Big Bad Bill
I want to tell you he sure was tough
Yeah all folks scared to death when he walked by they held their breath
He was a mighty man sure enough.

Now Bill took himself a wife now he's a different guy
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now
Married life has changed him somehow
Yet he's not the man they used to fear
Now the people call him Sweet Papa Willie Dear.

Stronger than Sampson I'll declare
And he's bound in mama comb his hair
Big Bad Bill don't fight anymore
Wash his dishes and he might sweep the floor.

Yeah, he used to spend his evenings
A lookin' for a fight
But now he gotta see his mama every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now.

Yeah, he used to spend his evenings
A lookin' for a fight
But now he gotta see his mama every night
Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now...

 

[fox69]

"Big City"

"Big City"


I'm tired of this dirty old city
Entirely too much work and never enough play
And I'm tired of these dirty old sidewalks
Think I'll walk off my steady job today

Turn me loose, set me free
Somewhere in the middle of Montanna
And gimme all I've got comin' to me
And keep your retirement
And your so called social security
Big City, turn me loose and set me free

Been working everyday since I was twenty
Haven't got a thing to show for anything I've done
There's folks who never work and they've got plenty
Think it's time some guys like me had some fun

So, turn me loose, set me free
Somewhere in the middle of Montanna
And gimme all I've got comin' to me
And keep your retirement
And your so called social security
Big city, turn me loose and set me free

Yeah, big city, turn me loose and set me free

 

[fox69]

"Big Time Annie's Square"

"Big Time Annie's Square"


I came back to find my Annie'd moved away
To some town in California close in something somewhere close to east LA
Don't think finding her was easy cause something sure had changed my Tulsa girl
But I came here to show my love and try to understand her crazy world
I was thrilled because she treated me with joy
And was glad she still remembered
Well enough to know someone she called her boy
And I've heard about those sugar cutes before I ever came to find her there
I was glad to be excepted even though I've known as big time Annie's square
I'm just big time Annie's leaning post someone she can turn to now and then
Annie says I'm feeble but Annie's friends don't question
The square John known as big time Annie's friend

Well sometimes I feel happy through and through
And I always find excuses for anything my Annie wants to do
We don't agree on nothin' but I'll be dangled if we don't make the pair
My friends call her hippie and her friends call me big time Annie's square
I'm just big time Annie's leaning post...

 

[fox69]

"Bill Woods From Bakersfield"

"Bill Woods From Bakersfield"


Spoken:]
Bakersfield
An oil town that really had it's boon during the heart of the depression
And Bakersfield also destined to become somewhat of a center for country music
And even as back as the early 50's it began to gain national recognition
For the popularity of songs like Dear John Letter Ferlin Husky's Gone
And a string novelity hits from Leonard Sipes or better known as Tommy Collins
Country music is a profession in Bakersfield
And like all other professions whether it be that of a Doctor
Or a Scientist or a steady ditch digger
Everyone seems to have a particular someone who offered that helping hand
At the right time
And country music is no exception
But in Bakersfield that same helping hand kept reachin' out time after time
To different people such as Jeanne Sheppard Ferlin Husky Tommy Collins
Buck Owens Billy Mize Herb Henson Merle Haggard and also Red Simpson
Who saw reason to compose this song called Bill Woods From Bakersfield
Bill here's to you...

[Sang:]
Let me tell you all a story bout a guitar pickin' man
To me he is the greatest picker in the land
He's taught me how to play in G and he taught me how to sing in key
Bill Woods from Bakersfield the Bakersfield guitar man.

Well Bill gave old Buck the first job he ever had
Bill must've been a good teacher cause old Buck didn't do too bad
He sets up there chewin' his ole cigar playin' Wildwood Flower on his guitar
Bill Woods from Bakersfield the Bakersfield guitar man.

Well Bill never hit it big but he didn't miss it far
And in my book he'll always be considered a star
I followed him and he taught me guitar pickin' and harmony
Bill Woods from Bakersfield the Bakersfield guitar man.

When the roll is called up yonder and we've all met our quest
I bet he'll be chosen to pick there with the best
Up there with his gold guitar well things're right Bill will be a star
Bill Woods from Bakersfield the Bakersfield guitar man.

Well everybody loves old Bill cause he's quite a man
And if anybody should need some help well he'll sure lend you a hand
There's one more thing I'd like to say before my story's through
Bill Woods from Bakersfield we're all proud of you...

 

[fox69]

"Blue Christmas"

"Blue Christmas"


I'll have a blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue just thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Don't mean a thing dear if you're not here with me.

I'll have a blue Christmas that's certain
And when my blue, blue heartaches start hurtin'
You'll be doing alright with your Christmas of white
While I'll have a blue, blue Christmas.

I'll have a blue, blue Christmas without you
You'll be doing alright with your Christmas of white
While I'll have a blue, blue Christmas...