Merle Haggard

[fox69]

"C.C. Waterback"

"C.C. Waterback"


C.C. Waterback, one tequila sunrise
One's for my aching head, the other's for my bloodshot eyes
Yeah, last night I let it all hang out, I guess that's how my head got sore
C.C. Waterback, I can't stand the pain no more

Last night we got invited to a party at the Jones' place
For fun and games and booze and things
I guess I must have drunk a case

Well, that lady of mine, she drank warm red wine
'Til she couldn't even find the door
She wound up on the Jones' bed and I wound up on the floor

I gave you C.C. Waterback, one tequila sunrise
One's for my aching head, the other's for my bloodshot eyes
Last night I let it all hang out, yeah, I guess that's how my head got sore
I said, "C.C. Waterback, can't stand the pain no more"

And I fed you, C.C. Waterback, one tequila sunrise
One's for my aching head, the other's for my bloodshot eyes
Last night I let it all hang out, I guess that's how my head got sore
I said, "C.C. Waterback, I can't stand the pain no more"

 

[fox69]

"California Blues"

"California Blues"


Well I'm goin' to California where they sleep out every night yeah
I'm goin' to California where they sleep out every night
I'm leaving you mama cause you know you don't treat me right.

Let me tell you something mama that you don't know
Let me tell you something good gal that you don't know
Well I'm a do-right papa and got home everywhere I go yeah.

I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here Lawd Lawd
I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here
I may ride the blinds I ain't got no railroad fare.

Listen to me mama while I sing this song
Listen to your daddy sing you this so lonesome song
You got me worried now but I won't be worried too long.

I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here Lawd Lawd
I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here
I may ride the blinds I ain't got no railroad fare...

 

[fox69]

"California Cottonfields"

"California Cottonfields"


My driftin' memory goes back to the spring of '43,
When I was just a child in momma's arms.
My daddy plowed the ground and promised someday we would leave
This run-down mortgaged Oklahoma farm.
Then one night I heard my daddy sayin' to my momma
That he'd finally saved enough to go.
California was his dream, a paradise, for he had seen
Pictures in magazines that told him so.

California Cottonfields,
Where labor camps were filled with weary men with broken dreams.
California Cottonfields,
As close to wealth as daddy ever came.

Nearly everything we had was sold or left behind,
From my daddy's plow to the soup that momma canned.
Some folks came to say farewell or see what all we had to sell;
Some just came to shake my daddy's hand.
That model A was loaded down and California bound;
A change of luck was just 4 days away.
But the only change that I remember seeing in my daddy
Was when his dark hair turned to silver grey.

California Cottonfields,
Where labor camps were filled with weary men with broken dreams.
California Cottonfields,
As close to wealth as daddy ever came.

 

[fox69]

"Can't Break The Habit"

"Can't Break The Habit"


I can kick any habit that is if I want to*
Or I can lay off whatever I’m on
But of all the things that I’ve been a slave to
Hey you’re the one thing I can’t leave alone

I can’t break the habit love is too strong
I can’t take the cure now I’ve been hooked to long
I crave your loving wouldn’t quit if I could
Can’t break the habit cause I have it to good

I can stay off the bottle go straight if I want to
Or I can stay high till the curtain comes down
I used to get around love and move on if I had to
But you’re the one thing I can’t get around

 

[fox69]

"Carolyn"

"Carolyn"


Carolyn, let me tell you what I heard about a man today
He didn't come home from work and he went away
Till he came to a city, bright in the night time like day
There they say he met up with some women dressed in yellow and scarlet
Their warm lips like a honeycomb, dripped with honey
And something about the smell of strange perfume
Made him feel warm and not alone

Yes Carolyn, a man will do that sometimes on his own
And sometimes when he's lonely
I believe a man might do that sometimes out of spite
But Carolyn, a man will do that always
When he's treated bad at home

Yes Carolyn, a man will do that sometimes on his own
And sometimes when he's lonely
And I believe a man might do that sometimes out of spite
But Carolyn, a man will do that always
When he's treated bad at home

 

[fox69]

"Carryin' Fire"

"Carryin' Fire"


I remember you loved me with all of your heart
And I know your's as well as my own
I know you still need me and you're out there somewhere
And maybe you're cold and alone.

I'm carryin' fire carryin' fire
Burning for you a raging desire
I'm out of control the flame's ever high
But what can I do I'm burning for you carryin' fire.

Months slowly circle flickering candle
A fire is all you can see
If love is the feeling with one for the other
Then surely you're looking for me.

I'm carryin' fire carryin' fire
Burning for you a raging desire
I'm out of control the flame's ever high
But what can I do I'm burning for you carryin' fire...

 

[fox69]

"Cherokee Maiden"

"Cherokee Maiden"


One night when the moon was bright o'er a moonlight glade
That is where I found my little Cherokee maid
The me'mry of that night of love is lingering yet
And I know I never will forget.

My little Cherokee maiden I love her so and though we're far apart
I know I'll never be tradin' my love for her for anybody else's heart
Someday I'll make a trip back to the Cherokee strip
And I'll carry her away with me
And straight as an arrow flies we'll live to paradise
My sweet little chickadee my little Cherokee maiden and me.

My little Cherokee maiden I love her so and though we're far apart
I know I'll never be tradin' my love for her for anybody else's heart
Someday I'll make a trip back to the Cherokee strip
And I'll carry her away with me
And straight as an arrow flies we'll live to paradise
My sweet little chickadee my little Cherokee maiden and me...

 

[fox69]

"Chill Factor"

"Chill Factor"


Seems like every November
When the weather gets bad
I start to remember
all the good times we had
the long nights get longer
I Wish an friend would come by
The forecast is zero
And the chill factors high

you know the chill factors higher
On a cold windy day
but theres no wind this morning
And no wind on the way
Theres a snowstorm inside me
With record high wind
And I'm colder this morning
Than I've ever been

Seems like every November
When the weather gets bad
I start to remember
The good love we had
And the long nights get longer
Wish an old friend would drop by
The forecast is zero
And the chill factors high

 

[fox69]

"Cocaine Blues"

"Cocaine Blues"


Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
I went right home and I went to bed
I stuck that lovin' .44 beneath my head

Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun
Took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run but I ran too slow
They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico

Late in the hot joints takin' the pills
In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty heck that shot your woman down

Said yes, oh yes my name is Willy Lee
If you've got the warrant just a-read it to me
Shot her down because she made me sore
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more

When I was arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they took me back
Had no friend for to go my bail
They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail

Early next mornin' bout a half past nine
I spied the sheriff coming down the line
Ah, and he coughed as he cleared his throat
He said come on you dirty heck into that district court

Into the courtroom my trial began
Where I was handled by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out
I saw the little judge commence to look about

In about five minutes in walked the man
Holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read murder in the first degree
I hollered Lawdy Lawdy, have a mercy on me

The judge he smiled as he picked up his pen
99 years in the San Quentin pen
99 years underneath that ground
I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down

Come on you've gotta listen unto me
Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be

 

[fox69]

"Colorado"

"Colorado"


There's a place where mother nature's got it all together
She knows just when to let wild flowers bloom
Some-how she always seems to know exactly what she's doin'
And The Lord saw fit to furnish elbow room.

[Chorus:]
Have you ever been down to Colorado
I spend a lot of time there in my mind.
And if God doesn't live in Colorado
I'll bet that's where He spends most of his time.

I'd love to be there watching early in the morning
The sun comes up and crowns the mountain king
If by chance you dare to be there high upon the mountain
I swear that you can hear the angels sing.

[Chorus:]
Have you ever been down to Colorado
I spend a lot of time there in my mind.
And if God doesn't live in Colorado
I'll bet that's where He spends most of his time.