Merle Haggard - The Okie From Muskogie Quiz

Answer: Mama Tried

..."and no one could change my mind but mamma tried". This song tells the story of the hellion he was growing up, and how his momma tried to turn him down the right path. The first part of the chorus tells how unsuccesful she was..." and I turned 21 in prison doin' life without parole, and no one could steer me right, but momma tried".

Answer: Okie from Muskogie

..."And I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogie". His signature song, where he paints a wonderful picture of small town life in the town he grew up in, where people still leave their doors unlocked and the keys still in their car,s and still wave at their neighbors when they drove by. Man are those days ever gone!

Answer: Fighting Side of Me

This song he wrote during the Vietnam war era; it reflected his disgust and anger towards the draft dodging hippies of the day who were burning draft cards and refusing to fight for their country. The very next line of the song truly expresses his views on the whole subject... "They love our milk and honey, but they preach about another way of living, so when you're running down this country hoss, you're walking on the fighting side of me". God Bless America!

Answer: Sing Me Back Home

This is a song inspired by real events during his 18 month stay in San Quentin prison for robbery. It is about a condemned man Merle befriended, who was put to death while Merle was in prison. In his autobiography, Merle mentions that this song is what he pictured his friend would have done or said had they walked him past Merle's cell.

Answer: Amber Waves of Grain

If I remember correctly he sang this at the first farm aid concert, and had a rousing ovation from the crowd. The song talks about how the U.S was sending all this aid to foreign countries, yet during the farm crisis in the 80's the small farmers were being bought out by the banks and corporate farms.

The next line of the song goes... "Won't you save some of that farm aid for the farmers over here, or the amber waves of grain will disappear". As a fellow farmer, I still get misty eyed whenever I hear that song.

Answer: Yes

Yes, he did, and he got the pardon from then California governor Ronald Reagan.

Answer: Bonnie Owens

Merle used to play with Buck Owens on tours, and when Bonnie and Buck's marriage went sour, Merle and Bonnie got closer, and eventually married. Merle recorded a few albums with her before their marriage also went south due to Merle's drinking and taking pills. However, they remained very close friends afterwards.

Answer: Marty Robbins

Merle did an impersonation of Marty Robbins singing his famous song "Devil Woman" on a talk show in the late sixties or very early seventies, with Marty sitting right next to him, and the look on Marty and the talk show hosts' faces were of total amazement, because Merle sounded just like Marty Robbins.

Answer: In My Next Life

One of my favorite Haggard songs, and I get teary eyed whenever I hear it. This is one of several songs he has dealing with farming and the hardship farm families go through. In this song he tells of a farmer and his wife going through hard times, who are about to lose their farm.

The farmer tells his wife... "in my next life I wanna be your hero, something better than I turned out to be, I spent this life behind a plow and harrow, in my next life I'll make you proud of me"... The song ends with the old farmer on his death bed, and his loving wife singing this chorus to her hardworking husband just as he passes away.

Answer: Are the good times really over for good

..."Let's make Ford and a Chevy that'll still last ten years like they should, is the best of the free life behind us now and are the good times really over for good"... Another country anthem by this country legend, this one lamenting the way the United States was going back in the early to mid 80's.