Merle Haggard’s 10 Best Songs: Critic’s Picks

 

1. Merle Haggard – “Sing Me Back Home”

Maybe Merle Haggard’s finest moment. Inspired by his friendship with a fellow inmate at San Quentin who would be executed, it’s downright impossible to listen to this song and not be emotionally moved by the stark lyrics of this one — and thankful for your freedom.

2. Merle Haggard – “I’m A Lonesome Fugitive”

Again, Haggard didn’t write it. Liz and Casey Anderson penned this song about the stigma a man feels due to being behind bars. But, it’s a lyric that he undoubtedly knew first-hand, and he sold each line with the conviction of a man who had been there. If you look up the term “Merle Haggard songs” in the dictionary, this might be the best example of that subject. 

3. Merle Haggard – “Mama Tried” 

A Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, this powerful 1968 hit talks about the guilt that the singer felt for the pain that he caused his mother due to his incarceration at San Quentin. When you hear a purist talk about music not being “real” anymore — it’s a Merle Haggard song like this that they point to. We’d like to think a song like this could still find an audience today, as it has as much passion and depth as anything Haggard ever recorded.

4. Merle Haggard – “Misery and Gin” 

One of the final hits of Haggard’s brief stint at MCA, no song in his catalog evokes sadness and loneliness as much as this potent number. A rarity in the case that he didn’t write it, but he made this song all his own.

5. Merle Haggard – “Workin’ Man Blues” 

It should come as no surprise that many of the songs on this list are from the early years of his career, as the singer hit the Country Music scene in the late 1960s with perhaps the biggest artistic bang of all time. Not only were these songs “hits,” but they wound up influencing a generation. Maybe none more so than this 1969 tribute to the working class that is going to be played somewhere on Broadway in downtown Nashville tonight, classic guitar riffs and all!.

6. Merle Haggard – “The Fightin’ Side Of Me” 

Haggard left nothing to the imagination on how he felt about America in this 1970 classic that served as the follow-up to ‘Okie.’ This became yet another number one in 1970, and featured longtime Haggard friend (and Bakersfield pioneer) Tommy Collins as one of the session musicians.

7. Merle Haggard – “Okie From Muskogee” 

Was it a salute to the counter-culture era of the late 1960s, a biting piece of social commentary — or was it a spoof? Well, only Merle Haggard knew the answer for sure. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter. The song captivated American audiences, and became his ultimate calling card. The backing musicians on this record were also worth noting — including James Burton, Jerry Reed, and Ron Tutt.

8. Merle Haggard – “Kern River” 

Though not the singer’s biggest hit, there’s no doubting the emotional depth of this one. Written about the drowning death of his lover, Haggard gave a chilling performance of this one — making it one of the better compositions of his latter chart years.

9. Merle Haggard – “My Favorite Memory” 

Haggard’s switch to Epic in 1981 proved to be a huge decision for his career, as his catalog there proved to include some classic recordings. This nostalgic take on a romantic relationship was one of his biggest love song recordings, and even turned up in a 2013 episode of Dallas, being played at the funeral of the iconic TV character J.R. Ewing. Of course, he had his share of favorite memories!

10. Merle Haggard – “If We Make It Through December”

The lead single from his 1973 holiday album Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present, this tender number about a man who wasn’t able to provide a bountiful Christmas for his family touched a nerve with millions of fans who ached along with every line. Haggard said in interviews that he didn’t consider it a true song of the season, but the song still registers some impressive airplay each December.