The Steel Guitar Forum

My all time favorite is " I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me "

"Guess I'll Just Stay Here and Drink". It's not so much his best song as a songwriter, but I love the way he gives everyone in the band a turn to show off.

Every Fool Has A Rainbow
SING ME BACK HOME
SHELLY'S WINTER LOVE
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT PLANNED TONIGHT DIANA
IF YOU"RE TRYING TO BREAK MY HEART YOU DON'T HAVE VERY FAR TO GO
FARMERS DAUGHTER
WAKE UP

I guess mine would have to be "sad song" or maybe "in my next life".but then again any of his old songs are awsome

I love them all, but if I had to pick a few favorites:
Misery and Gin
Great Afternoon
Rainbow Stew
Fighting Side
Branded Man

"This Town's Not Big Enough"

HERE IN FRISCO is my all time favorite, followed up real close with ALWAYS WANTING YOU.

It's a tie for me.........

Lonesome Fugitive

and

Diana "just another breath or two and I'll be home"

My Favorite Merle Song to play on Steel is "Holding Things Together" Steel is great on this song and the intro is a classic

I can’t think of one I dont like .
his old standards are grate also “ I love you so much it hurts me “
grate steel ride by Norm on that one .

I agree with you Bob, as well as other on this post, that Merle didn't do a bad song and Norm Hamlet just enhanced them so much.

Hey by the way, does anyone out there have or know someone that has some good quality backing tracks of Merle songs?

Does anyone else recall a song from an early/mid 60's album, with a tune called "The day rains came down" ,I think is the name of the song. It has a really cool chord progression and melody line and Merle's usual great lyrics. I been trying to find it with no luck yet.....Stormy

Definitely Hags version of the great Lefty Frizzell song "That's The Way Love Goes" and a close second is "If We Make It Through December".

In my life, there have been five vocalists who sang so much from the heart in a live show that I was literally frozen with chills. Merle Haggard is one of those five.
TC

my favorite is i forget you everyday great chord structure

You Don't Have Very Far To Go is my favorite Merle Haggard song to play on steel.

Sing Me a Song
Days of Wine and Roses
Sing Me Back Home
Lonesome Fugitive

Wasn't the first two above Ralph Mooney on Steel?

I saw Merle Haggard last night here in Lakeland. Nice show. Norm Hamlet did a lot of great playing with Merle, his son (forget his name) and the Mallpas Bros. When the show was over, Norm was taking down his gear and had approached the side of the stage to chat with a few folks walking up, so I walked up and complimented his playing. Very nice man.

I have no preference what songs I back up on, but when I am singing, my choices are: Sing Me Back Home, I Threw Away The Rose, Hungry Eyes, and Somewhere Between.

My House of Memories

Great song, beautiful lyrics, beautiful melody.

Larry Chung beat me to it "House of memories" It has some good melody and some good chord changes.

Wow! T. C. I had forgotten about "That's The Way Love Goes". What a great one.

"ROLLING WITH THE FLOW","THE BOTTLE LET ME DOWN","I THREW AWAY THE ROSE","THE FARMERS DAUGHTER",'SWINGING DOORS',AND "RAMBLING FEVER". LOVE MERLE,AND THANK GOD I WORK FOR DON WHALEY AND GET TO PLAY THESE GREAT SONGS ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. TIM

The Roots of My Raisin', I like this one cause it makes me think of my grandparents. My grandma was always cutting up with her apron. My grandpa was one of those people that could borrow money simply on his word.

I've Got A Darlin' For A Wife, Cause I truly do.

Fightin' Side Of Me, cause it speaks my feelings about the country I love. If you don't love it leave it, ain't that the truth.

I don't believe he's ever made a bad cut. All of his songs are very melodic and well written. Even when he does another writer's song he makes it his with his interpretation. He is truly an amazing singer.
Everything between Skidrow and his Motorcycle Cowboy.
Take a lot of Pride in What I Am and I Threw Away the Rose are my two favorites to sing.

Remember his Jimmy Rogers stuff, especially California Blues?

Yes, all these Hag songs are just great....but as I was reading, I was thinking.."why don't we have this kind of creativity today"? Did all the creativity end with the 60's and 70's??