I was thinking about you when I heard the news today Kurt, I know you had respect for him. He died too young.

Sad news indeed...RIP Merle.

Gone to that great gig in the sky...man, what a jam that would be.

Always sux when a soldier goes down. Twitter said " he died at home , but on his tour bus".

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/2016/04/06/haggard-famed-songwriter-and-proud-okie-from-bakersfield-dies-at-78.html

Here it is... the 1969 anthem of Nixon's "great silent majority"... LOL.

In later years I always heard this song as being more satirical - considering that Merle smoked more than his fair share of herbage over the years. LOL

Merle was rolling a joint on the bus on the way to do a concert in Muskgoee, when Roy Nichols said to Merle, "you know Merle, they don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee ..... " and the rest is as they say, history.

Haggard was a true road dog. I'm not surprised that he asked to be put on the bus to die. My favorite Merle song is Ramblin' Fever. "I want to die along the highway and rot away, like some old high line pole, and rest this Ramblin' Fever in my soul."

In my state they perscribe medical marijuana to residents, who go to the doctor and get checked out (and pay the fee), you can grow it an smoke it. Lol they send you a little card in the mail that looks just like your drivers license. There even starting to look into letting people in jails for pot, out. Time magazine has an article reporting its ability to treat/cure Alzheimer's.

Sounds like the guy lived the type of life he wanted. who says rock stars don't wear button ups!

Kurt Foster, post: 437776, member: 7836 wrote: Merle was rolling a joint on the bus on the way to do a concert in Muskgoee, when Roy Nichols said to Merle, "you know Merle, they don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee ..... " and the rest is as they say, history.

Haggard was a true road dog. I'm not surprised that he asked to be put on the bus to die. My favorite Merle song is Ramblin' Fever. "I want to die along the highway and rot away, like some old high line pole, and rest this Ramblin' Fever in my soul."

Now thats goin' out in style ;)

this is what i'm talkin' about. Merle alone was responsible for over 50 top ten recordings.

and Prince gets all the press.

Kurt Foster, post: 438122, member: 7836 wrote: and Prince gets all the press.

I think that's probably due to the way that Prince died, along with his younger age. People don't look at someone dying in their 50's as "natural" anymore. Merle was much older, almost 80, and had a history of serious illnesses in the past ( lung cancer and heart disease) so it wasn't as much of a surprise. And, the amount of press coverage is relative to the industry trades that you read. My bet is that Merle's passing got plenty of press coverage in country music journals and circles - probably way more than Prince did.

That's not to downplay Merle's accomplishments - he had many honors bestowed upon him.

But Prince was an innovator in his own right as well... and talented.

LOL.. or does this bother you simply because you just personally happen to like Merle more than you did Prince? ;)

LOL. I'm not bothered at all. it's just an observation.