Merle Haggard's Final Recording 'Kern River Blues' Releases Today

In an effort to thank fans and family for their prayers over Merle Haggard's passing, the family of the former veteran country singer has released a band new unreleased song today.  "Kern River Blues" was recorded just before Haggard's passing.  The song speaks about bidding farewell to Bakersfield when Haggard left the city back in the 70s.  However, the lyrics (see below) also function as a fitting farewell by Haggard.  

Penned by Haggard, "Kern River Blues" features Haggard's son Ben on guitar.  The recording will premiere on Willie Nelson's SiriusXM's Willie's Roadhouse channel, before being made available to download on merlehaggard.com and iTunes. 

Vocals:  Merle Haggard

Electric Guitar:  Ben Haggard

Acoustic Guitar:  Scott Joss

Bass:  Doug Colosio

Steel Guitar:  Norman D. "Norm" Hamlet

Drums:  Jimmy Christie

Horns:  Renato Caranto

Mastering:  Benny Quinn

Cover Design:  William Chiaravalle

Cover Image:  Myriam Santos

Lyrics:

I'm leavin' town tomorrow

Get my breakfast in the sky

Well, I'm leavin' in the early morning

Eat my breakfast in the sky

Be a donut on a paper

Drink my coffee on the fly

I'm flying out on a jet plane

Gonna leave this town behind

I'm flying out on a jet plane

Gonna leave this town behind

They've done moved the city limits

Out by the county line

Put my head up to the window

Watch the city fade away

Put my head close to the window

Watch Oildale fade away

The blues back in the '30s

Just like the blues today

There used to be a river here

Runnin' deep and wide

Well, they used to have Kern River

Runnin' deep and wide

Then somebody stole the water

Another politician lied

When you closed down all the honky tonks

The city died at night

When you closed down all the honky tonks

The city died at night

When it hurt somebody's feelings

Well, a wrong ain't never right

Well, I'm leaving town forever

Kiss an old boxcar goodbye

Well, I'm leaving town forever

Kiss an old boxcar goodbye

I dug my blues down in the river

But the old Kern River is dry

 

 

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