An American Reverie: Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard or as I still prefer to address him, “The Hag” is an artist that now unfortunately gone has imbued my life with a deeper connection to and reconciliation with life. Merle's many songs of longing, running, loving, and drinking ballads calls out as if every song struck into the core of America. Perhaps it’s because of his ability to not only penetrate the heart of being in his music and grasp the wide variety of thoughts, emotions, and actions everyone is likely to encounter throughout life. He paints a window and then with a guiding hand reaches out and pulls you into the expression of his music. In my opinion if you compiled all of The Hag’s music you would get a full picture of the depth and breadth of human existence. Perhaps the song of choice being, (I'm Gonna Paint Me) A Bed of Roses illuminates just how far out he can stretch beyond a country musician and into the depths of human being.
