The Hag
.
I wrote a poem with a Jones song on every line back in the Big City,
So I’ll try with My Favorite Memory of Merle’s songs in this ditty,
Perhaps he was happy when he lived at home and his Mama Tried,
To feed him well with her famous Rainbow Stew he never denied.
.
.
.
The Hag
.
When Merle was young, the Swinging Doors to him were kind,
But The Bottle Let Me Down was often heard and on his mind.
He often said I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink for a time.
And he often did drink C. C. Waterback and Yesterdays Wine.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
He was quite a ladies man out at his cabin on Kern River so nice,
And he said Today, I Started Loving You Again once or twice.
And If We’re Not Back In Love By Monday, then you can go afar,
At night, they looked to the sky saying Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Star.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Merle’s Daddy Frank played the guitar and Merle played the fiddle,
On Texas Fiddle Song, he sang some and fiddled in the middle.
He even did a song called Cherokee Fiddle from his Bob Wills days,
And that Fiddle Breakdown so fast it left you in a dizzy haze.
.
.
.
.
.
..
Sometimes Merle said you’re walking on The Fighting Side Of Me,
As he was an Okie From Muskogee and a very proud man, you see.
Often wearing a Red Bandana as he walked this great land of ours,
With Pancho and Lefty acting like outlaws as they played for hours.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
In his younger days, Merle was said to have Rambling Fever,
Some even said he was a Branded Man and a proud young believer,
But he went into prison saying I Am What I Am so very slow,
He was then homesick saying Sing Me Back Home as I want to go.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Merle often talked about the Roots Of My Raising as he did speak,
Often remembering his Mamas Hungry Eyes with a tear on his cheek.
As he grew up he got the Working Man Blues right down in his shoes,
Getting those 5:01 Blues waiting for the long long work day to close
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Merle said Let’s Chase Each Other Round The Room Tonight,
While Living With The Shades Pulled Down which seemed so right.
As he told his lady friend I Always Get Lucky With You sweet thing,
And I Had A Beautiful Time with all the love that night did bring.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Merle thanked Carolyn for a wonderful evening with him at home,
Then got into his truck with that White Line Fever on the roam.
Thinking Are The Good Times Really Over while working in his boots,
Like a Lonesome Fugitive on a chain gang working in a prison suit.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Merle traveled this land flying on those big Silver Wings so bright,
Drinking those free drinks dealing with that Misery And Gin at night,
Thinking he was a Honky Tonk Night Time Man traveling all around,
Telling everyone I have Reasons To Quit with the hangovers I’ve found.
.
I heard on the news that Merle is suffering from Pneumonia. Let’s all say a little prayer to get him well. He is now 78 years old. Update: Today I heard a great country singer has found his way into heaven.
.
.
.
..
Merle as The Old Man From The Moutain said like he should,
If We Can Make It Through December, I will know that I would,
Be able to say That’s The Way Love Goes and start things anew,
As he was just Turning Off A Memory that had made him so blue.
.
.
.
.
By Bill
.
.
.
Thanks for reading The Hag,
Bill