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I've been youtubing for an hour reminding myself that Merle Haggard can justifiably be called the World's Finest Entertainer, and the reason he can do that is the quality of his writing, the quality of his delivery and the idealism he still manages to convey after all these years of outrage.

What a guy.

1hag·gard adj ˈha-gərd

Definition of HAGGARD

1

of a hawk : not tamed

2

a : wild in appearance

b : having a worn or emaciated appearance : gaunt

— hag·gard·ly adverb

— hag·gard·ness noun

Examples of HAGGARD

She looked tired and haggard.

We were shocked by his haggard appearance.

I don't think you can hold that against him, he grew into the name over several centuries.

Who are you and what have you done with spot?

I'm allowed to acknowledge his lifetime achievement founded on what appears to have been a cataclysmic rough start. He's an inspiration. On top of that I love his sense of humor, his style and his lyrics.

In some ways his songs remind me of another great songwriter/performer, Terry Allen, whom I associate with Lubbock Texas but who might be based elsewhere by now.

spot;1401594 wrote: I've been youtubing for an hour reminding myself that Merle Haggard can justifiably be called the World's Finest Entertainer, and the reason he can do that is the quality of his writing, the quality of his delivery and the idealism he still manages to convey after all these years of outrage.

What a guy.


spot;1401634 wrote: I'm allowed to acknowledge his lifetime achievement founded on what appears to have been a cataclysmic rough start. He's an inspiration. On top of that I love his sense of humor, his style and his lyrics.

In some ways his songs remind me of another great songwriter/performer, Terry Allen, whom I associate with Lubbock Texas but who might be based elsewhere by now.


Hey, Jimbo's back, and just as funny as ever.

YZGI;1401661 wrote: Hey, Jimbo's back, and just as funny as ever.


If you don't know Terry Allen you could just come out and say so.

spot;1401663 wrote: If you don't know Terry Allen you could just come out and say so.


He was born in the town I am at the moment. Wichita, Ks.

But I have to admit that I googled him.

YZGI;1401665 wrote: He was born in the town I am at the moment. Wichita, Ks.

But I have to admit that I googled him.


Try one. I don't believe anyone could write this without knowing the attraction. Terry Allen - Southern Comfort

It must be ten years ago I bought that CD.







eta: If you like that you could even try Terry Allen - Helena Montana

spot;1401668 wrote: Try one. I don't believe anyone could write this without knowing the attraction. Terry Allen - Southern Comfort

It must be ten years ago I bought that CD.







eta: If you like that you could even try Terry Allen - Helena Montana


I tried them both. Didn't make it through either of them. Not that I don't like a little country music, but not my cup tea.

YZGI;1401670 wrote: I tried them both. Didn't make it through either of them. Not that I don't like a little country music, but not my cup tea.


Aspects of the sound overlap with country music but I'm not sure it sits comfortable in that category.

spot;1401671 wrote: Aspects of the sound overlap with country music but I'm not sure it sits comfortable in that category.


Yeah, it's more bluesy.

spot;1401594 wrote: I've been youtubing for an hour reminding myself that Merle Haggard can justifiably be called the World's Finest Entertainer, and the reason he can do that is the quality of his writing, the quality of his delivery and the idealism he still manages to convey after all these years of outrage.

What a guy.


A moment's reflection please, to note the passing of a folk hero.

Merle Haggard Dies

He left the world a better place for having lived.

YZGI;1401670 wrote: I tried them both. Didn't make it through either of them. Not that I don't like a little country music, but not my cup tea.


I didn't like either of them either. I expected something quite different on a tribute thread to Merle Haggard. My grandpa & uncles who did Country when it WAS Country would probably be mortified.

He was definitely one of the Great American songwriters, and always a pleasure to hear in concert.

I had the pleasure of listening to him at the Ryman.

I liked his Silver Wings very much.

And this:

Some of my favorites:

He had so many great songs. I loved Today I started Loving You again. Here's a clip that shows his great sense of humor.

This is a favorite of mine:

I'm listening to my Merle CD's



https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=m ... oo_pc_mail

I'm listening to my Merle CD's



https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=m ... oo_pc_mail

Great voice and stage presence, excellent guitar work, repertoire a matter of personal taste.

Muskogee, Oklahoma is about the last place in the USA where I would want to live or even visit.

Mark Aspam;1494475 wrote: Muskogee, Oklahoma is about the last place in the USA where I would want to live or even visit.
Really? Were I to visit the US I'd much rather be there than anywhere else. I'd feel so much safer than in a large conurbation.

Even so I'm not sure I'd discuss the urgent need to adopt socialism which Americans really have to engage with in the near future. It's a matter for Americans, not visitors.

I assume Muskogee Oklahoma has at least an inn with accommodation.

spot;1494477 wrote: I assume Muskogee Oklahoma has at least an inn with accommodation.Probably several. They probably also get drunk and scr*w a lot there.

As Gerty Stein ( I THINK it was she) once said (about a different place), "There is no 'there' there."

Mark Aspam;1494475 wrote: Great voice and stage presence, excellent guitar work, repertoire a matter of personal taste.

Muskogee, Oklahoma is about the last place in the USA where I would want to live or even visit.


When Merle wrote that tune, he'd actually never been to Muskogee, Oklahoma. It was just a great name to use in the lyrics.

You should go there. It may surprise you.

Among other activities, it is home of the Oklahoma Renaissance Fair, and a Cherokee/Creek Pow Wow.

And the first time I heard that song was on the radio, driving back to Tulsa from Muskogee, where we sampled some very fine Cannabis.

We had a good laugh over that. The Universe is full of such contradictions.

LarsMac;1494479 wrote: When Merle wrote that tune, he'd actually never been to Muskogee, Oklahoma. It was just a great name to use in the lyrics.

You should go there. It may surprise you.

Among other activities, it is home of the Oklahoma Renaissance Fair, and a Cherokee/Creek Pow Wow.

And the first time I heard that song was on the radio, driving back to Tulsa from Muskogee, where we sampled some very fine Cannabis.

We had a good laugh over that. The Universe is full of such contradictions.Well, I lived in Oklahoma City for about a year, I had relatives there so was already familiar with the place.

If there's one city in the USA that can realistically be described as "a big small town", it's gotta be OKC, and I don't think that the residents there would object to that characterization.

And yes, the state does have a rep as producing some very good weed. Of course, they don't smoke it in...never mind.

I just paid a virtual visit using the little yellow man on Google Earth. I span the globe, focused on Oklahoma (one of the flat bits of the North American continent), descended and saw Muskogee, landed randomly near the center of town and drove about for a few blocks.

Where I came to earth was outside Shelton-Gray & Damme, Brake Services. I circled the block. A lot of the premises were car-related. I was adjured to Back Bobby Jefferson, passed Lovely Nails and a Tattoo & Body Piercing establishment, the No Hype PC & Laptop, Church's Chicken ("7pc Mixed Mash $8.99"). Someone's selling fuel, $3.59.9 per US gallon, and offering to fit Mufflers while you wait. You could even buy a carpet at Stanley's or clothing at Next 2 New.

My general reaction is that I couldn't find a town center as such, not a square with a courthouse and a few trattoria, an antique shop and book seller, a haberdashery and an ironmongers. The kerb seems unknown though there's a few pedestrian crossings marked out in zebra stripes at traffic lights. Oddest of all is the patchy provision of sidewalks, as though what you get depends entirely on the whim of who built the building next to it. Sidewalks don't seem to join up. The sole pedestrian I saw was incongruously pushing a lawn mower.

Had I found a town center I'd have looked for an inn there. As it was, the only places offering accommodation were dotted along two-lane dual carriageways and no sidewalks there either. For someone who would absolutely not drive while visiting I'm not sure how I'd get about.

Mark Aspam;1494483 wrote: Well, I lived in Oklahoma City for about a year, I had relatives there so was already familiar with the place.

If there's one city in the USA that can realistically be described as "a big small town", it's gotta be OKC, and I don't think that the residents there would object to that characterization.

And yes, the state does have a rep as producing some very good weed. Of course, they don't smoke it in...never mind.


I have a lot of family ties in OKC. My grandparents (mother's side) met and married there. One uncle still lives there. most of the rest have all died off. Not a place I would really like to live. I like trees, and mountains.

spot;1494484 wrote: I just paid a virtual visit using the little yellow man on Google Earth. I span the globe, focused on Oklahoma (one of the flat bits of the North American continent), descended and saw Muskogee, landed randomly near the center of town and drove about for a few blocks.

Where I came to earth was outside Shelton-Gray & Damme, Brake Services. I circled the block. A lot of the premises were car-related. I was adjured to Back Bobby Jefferson, passed Lovely Nails and a Tattoo & Body Piercing establishment, the No Hype PC & Laptop, Church's Chicken ("7pc Mixed Mash $8.99"). Someone's selling fuel, $3.59.9 per US gallon, and offering to fit Mufflers while you wait. You could even buy a carpet at Stanley's or clothing at Next 2 New.

My general reaction is that I couldn't find a town center as such, not a square with a courthouse and a few trattoria, an antique shop and book seller, a haberdashery and an ironmongers. The kerb seems unknown though there's a few pedestrian crossings marked out in zebra stripes at traffic lights. Oddest of all is the patchy provision of sidewalks, as though what you get depends entirely on the whim of who built the building next to it. Sidewalks don't seem to join up. The sole pedestrian I saw was incongruously pushing a lawn mower.

Had I found a town center I'd have looked for an inn there. As it was, the only places offering accommodation were dotted along two-lane dual carriageways and no sidewalks there either. For someone who would absolutely not drive while visiting I'm not sure how I'd get about.


Not many places in Oklahoma that you'd want to live without driving a vehicle of some sort.