Merle Haggard - Working Man Blues

Working Man Blues - Merle Haggard
It's a big job just gettin' by with nine kids and a wife
I been a workin' man dang near all my life
I'll be working long as my two hands are fit to use
I'll drink my beer in a tavern,
Sing a little bit of these working man blues
I keep my nose on the grindstone, I work hard every day
Might get a little tired on the weekend, after I draw my pay
But I'll go back workin, come Monday morning I'm right back with the crew
I'll drink a little beer that evening,
Sing a little bit of these working man blues
Hey hey, the working man, the working man like me
I ain't never been on welfare, that's one place I won't be
Cause I'll be working long as my two hands are fit to use
I drink a little beer that evening
Sing a little bit of these working man blues
Sometimes I think about leaving, do a little bummin around
I wanna throw my bills out the window catch a train to another town
But I go back working I gotta buy my kids a brand new pair of shoes
Yeah drink a little beer that evening,
Cry a little bit of these working man blues
Hey hey, the working man, the working man like me
I ain't never been on welfare, that's one place I won't be
Cause I'll be working long as my two hands are fit to use
I drink a little beer that evening
Sing a little bit of these working man blues
Yeah drink a little beer that evening,
Cry a little bit of these working man blues

[@yagamei]

... He's got his cigarette between his fingers as he plays his solo? Thats as certified bakersfield badass as it gets, friends.

[@monmixer]

Merle is a great country artist and part of our American heritage. I have worked in the country music industry most of my life as an audio engineer. These guys were great and hard working musicians. They were not handed a silver spoon like most artist today. They learned the ropes on their own. Most learned to play on their own. Then the years and years of playing in smoke filled bars. Those were the good old days. Takes a toll on your body and your mind. especially if you have a family.

[@jgizzy]

I'm 4 years old, and I love Merle Haggard!

[@johnnyhuis]

This is the true beat of the song-kind of bluesy & with comfortable rhythm! Well written for the times and I think it would be a hit today, if just released! Hats Off! Thanks, Mr. Haggard!

[@vader6972]

I used to dig him cuz of Mama Tried and Okie. Now I see him as important a figure in American music as Arlo Guthrie and Simon and Garfunkel. Merle is greatness.

[@ronbo11]

Merle & the Strangers are just awesome in this video! Pure musical genius.

[@magprob]

I've seen the Hag a few times, but when I was a kid, we saw him and the Strangers in Bakersfield, in the 60's. That sticks with me for ever, Even with the rock I've listened to all my life, I put the Hag is in the highest place of complete respect, because he is the real deal.

[@gareof]

Merle's one of voices that stand out from the rest....10 seconds into any of his songs and you know it's "Hag"....I Grew up playin' guitar in Bakersfield competing with him and Buck for gigs..(Tex' Barrel House, The Blackboard, The Lucky Spot, Pumpkin Center.. etc. etc.) But they Forced me to get serious about music & singing, ...unfortunately I left for the L.A. music scene in 1962 and played Rock and Roll because I thought country music was "lame"...just a dumb kid.

[@donluke578]

Man, if there is a male country singer with a fantastic voice, great tunes, great lyrics that I can just listen to all day long......it's the man.....Merle Haggard.....ya gotta love Merle......!!!!

[@stratguy]

That is one of the best lead rides I've ever heard Merle play!!! Very clean and articulate and tasty as well!!! Of course Roy burned the strings off of his Tele.

[@jnfamiani]

One of the best guitar solos I have ever heard!

[@TheGENNI28]

@LLMorse1 - Merles father worked for the railroad (laborer) before he died when Merle was 9. If you do some research. Merle has a personal understanding of what life is like for the working man being he is the son of one and knows hard times because his family lived it. Believe me as a mother of 4 married to a man who is a welder and roofer our children have a very good understanding of life in a blue collar family and the daily struggles that can go along with that just as Merle does.

[@RandyRayReviews]

I just done got up out my chair and started dancin' my working mans blues away!

[@jensenbell]

Guitar Solo HEAVEN from 1:46 Mister Roy Nichols!! That's how you play the blues, Bakersfield Style!

[@chevy662]

this is country damm it

[@surfdude2000]

The beauty in Merle's songs are his lyrics. His music has obvious blues, gospel and country roots, but the magic of his music is how his words paint a picture that people can identify with. It's blue collar, it's American, it's from the heart and it's timeless. "I turned 21 in prison, doing life without parole... No-one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried"

[@cdkgb]

Merle Haggard = Real American.

[@seenfromsweden]

Impressed with how he holds the cigarette!

[@kevingann5711]

im 24 and still love rockin to some merle. dad brought me up on the good stuff

[@DVFDrinkOrDie]

Bakersfield born and raised. Right here! I love the seattle sound of Alice In Chains, Candlebox, Soundgarden, and of course Nirvana. Also love Australia's AC/DC. But you also can't ignore Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. Love them all!

[@TheBurf1]

You don't have to dig ditches to be considered a working man. Anybody who gets his butt outta bed day after day and shows up, gets it done and wouldn't have it any other way is a working man in my book; regardless of what you do for a living!

[@foxyhare2001]

My dad had 10 kids...lol! Go Merle and go dad!

[@mrjamrock1000]

Love the post, working man blues in Merle's prime, late 70's. I saw him at the Pozo saloon with Devil Makes 3 and mainstream country stars Currington and Vasser. Devil Makes three and Merle played first, just like the old days in Bakersfield, hotties, drunks and biker gangs were everywhere. People going nuts for Merle. Then the last two guys came on and even though they are great performers about half the crowd left. This video is a testament to the power of Merle and the Bakersfield sound.

[@Kennymurraycampbell]

Merle is the man.

[@51362879]

Get it Merle! great song! I always thought he looked like a cross between Clint Eastwood, and James Garner. LOL!

[@tree071]

Time tested and time true!!!! Love it

[@snakejohnson88]

i knew the dead did a lot of merle covers, but i never realized how much jerry must have learned from roy nichols, i was like is that jerry ripping it up. just got into merle, real good stuff.

[@Nancietta]

Still a great song, performer, & band .

[@FrankaDith]

@Avenger325 And anybody thinking you sing like that and play the guitar that well without workin at it is a damn fool thanks for the comeback he deserves all the praise he gets R.I.P Mr Haggard.

[@bcstpete]

3:11 "yeah, yeah, far out! I dig this country groove man"

[@sonnyboygumbo]

Woa!!!! Roy Nichols... The band is wailin' on this!!

[@johnrunion]

thankfully we still have merle. when he is gone...so is real country!

[@BCRSIX]

Is that Roy Nichols sitting down playing guitar? Merle's a damn good guitar player himself, and hey has gotten better over the years.

[@amoskowitz0103]

Redd Volkaert once told me that the hardest thing to get used to at first with Haggard is his lack of interest in proper timing. I was like "dude, you're playing with friggin' Haggard..." He's like - yep! :) LOL

[@16windermere]

you cant get any better than this , nice clip

[@BucktailFishing]

Sing the song that tells about those of us that put our noses to the grindstone and earn our place in society. Keep it up Merle!

[@ZupaDub]

..just wonderful, simply wonderful, thanks for posting this, so much xxx

[@TheBurf1]

You don't have to dig ditches to be considered a working man. Anybody who gets his ass outta bed day after day and shows up, gets it done and wouldn't have it any other way is a working man in my book; regardless of what you do for a living!

[@TheYajrennat]

Happy Labor Day.

[@vendanges3]

Roy Nichols was one of the greatest guitarist of Country Music. Merle ain't bad either!!!

[@Dave081949]

Wish I could pick like the late Roy Nichols, pictured sitting down. WOW

[@quiltbee]

very nice upload....thank you...

[@jcurt76]

That's some serious rhythm guitar at 2:22!

[@fromthenorthwest]

the end of the piano solo looks so cool when he goes up high with both hands!

[@JakeOwenLover]

My dad sounds like Merle Haggard. It's Great!(:

[@likes2aplay]

awesome song thank ya

[@yossarian22athome]

Way better than in the studia, love it!

[@jnfamiani]

the best guitar solo!

[@sxomega1]

Merle Haggard is the ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Samoaka]

Thumbs up for the piano player!

[@RattlerMan33]

Man Hag and them Strangers are somethin to see!!!

[@thedawgshow]

Watch that piano!!!! He's working it!!!

[@bashfulbrother]

@LLMorse1 I worked with Lynn Anderson. Her mother Liz wrote Fugitive plus a dozen other Haggard hits. They met Merle when he was doing time. They lived near the prison in which he was incarcerated. The prison sent guys out on work assignments in the community. Trust me, Merle knows quite well, what it means to bust a sweat on menial labor.

[@dangervich]

Loose as a goose... recommended by a friend who said he was to syrupy in the studio and much better in concert... got to agree with her if this is any indication! Fantastic performance!

[@gomudhen]

Roy Nichols guitar solo is hotter than a urinary infection. This cat could PLAY.

[@TheBlakem]

This is GREAT!!!!

[@vendanges3]

Just love the guy!

[@briandillpickle]

You don't mess with The Hagg

[@RogerAlanBoggs]

Piano player @2:14 --- Awesome

[@Bodie007]

Ol' Merle is a pretty smooth Tele-picker.

[@akeagleTL]

I'm trying to figure out how to put this on repeat.

[@Nancietta]

Still a great song & performer.

[@yearling4]

F@#kin' bad ass.....playin' while holdin' a cig, I love it! Roy NIchols' part was awesome too : )

[@TheDjangojunkie]

awesome solo. roy is so cool!!

[@BoudiccaBlanc]

"Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies, and a rough edge not heard on the more polished Nashville Sound recordings of the same era......" -- Wikipedia

[@JacksonDelaneyMusic]

What a talent

[@sbstnpofadder]

Holy shit i want that Telecaster..

[@thedawgshow]

Wow, now that's working it!!!

[@27stockdill]

i grew up on this music these guys lived their music thats y theyre so good if u dont like it listen to your rap crap

[@krenzcar88]

Slicker than silk socks.

[@haunter112]

"Sounds like Roy!" Love me some Roy Nichols!

[@timnorman7543]

ole merle is gonna be at the ohio state fair in june.gonna go see him,he puts on one hell of a show

[@cwildcatter1]

Great one! thanks

[@Vulturer]

Man I also like Metal and classical, but this song really kicks! Really the workin' man's song, especially for those who play a few sets everyday for weeks.

[@bosszeroboss]

Love it.

[@ArkRed1]

Roy Nichols, the greatest.

[@lits]

yes yes yes.

[@foxnotch]

I don't see why everyone is getting their panties twisted about him not being a "working man". He is singing this FOR the working man, and portraying himself as one to give the song feeling. If he wrote a song which described his admiration for working men, well that would just be gay.

[@rappy90]

Kinda looks like Eastwood! Play on Merle!

[@lits]

You said that right, friend.

[@HAPPYTHELEAF]

@LLMorse1 I guess you figure yourself to be a working man but unlike working men you do not have enough imagination to peel a banana skin my friend........Merle on the other hand has enough imagination to write about what he see and feels, so thank your lucky stars for hard working musicians like Merle..

[@PinkFloydrulez]

this reminds me an awful lot of the dead covering big river

[@Owen7058]

My grandpa opened for him in like the 60s they hung out a little

[@TheFman43]

actually I remember Roy playing a 57 strat, 5 days a week, on KERO tv ..Bakersfield..and playing awesome guitar lick!..I have never heard the sound of that 57 strat ..ever again..the new ones dont sound anything like that..

[@curvy71]

i always liked this song.they play this at DollyWood.

[@steevrawjers]

amazing

[@l87kmps]

Thanks for the music (MH), God Bless U, I remember Jean Val Jean went to prison for stealing a piece of bread to feed his family , not everyones retirement like todays thieves, my advise is be reluctant to be "the judge" of others , as we R all surely gonna be judged someday.

[@stdguage]

That's Ronnie Reno on the rthym Martin guitar, he is a fine bluegrass musician...

[@Vulturer]

@Soulpower1484 write about the way they solo, how they are influenced by country music and such, write about the lyrics, what the song makes you think of, relate specific personal experiences to the lyrics and what it makes you think of.

[@no1machinest]

@SwampSurferPDX I think that lead quitar is Roy Nichols.

[@chevy662]

I drink alot of beer that evening

[@TopDogCrowned65]

I drink my beer in tavern! cry a bit of these workin man blues!

[@HottStix1]

ahh you might be right. but have you ever played music? have you ever been on a tour? It's not as easy as it may seem. Lots of hard WORK and dedication goes in to being a good musician and performer. Its not for everyone. PLUS the way this man earns his money is entertaining a certain group of people. like working men, so for him to write a song to appeal to this group of people is a very good idea! It sells albums and tickets, which is how this working man (Mr. Haggard) makes his living.

[@Retslu]

You put this on here surfdude, thanks...sorry bout that lump in my throat sort of thing.

[@surfdude2000]

@jaybodonoghue The b&w makes it look older. It's Live @ Austin 1978

[@surfdude2000]

Intro, verse, verse, solo, verse, end, drink...

[@aaanker]

Why fight or trash Merle Haggard? (don't answer) - Let's just enjoy him play out and if you don't like it listen/watch something else.

[@surfdude2000]

Right you are HottStix1... Most musicians don't see a penny for all the time and practice they put into their craft. People like @LLMorse are clueless...

[@donluke578]

Yep...!!

[@surfdude2000]

Live from Austin 1978, but don't tell anyone... Oooops!