Johnny Cash: A Ghost Rider, Still Stirring Souls

npr ^ | February 26, 2010

[ETL]

Plus he [Johnny Cash] was against the Iraq War.

So was Merle Haggard. He even wrote a song opposing the war.

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Coun­try music leg­end Merle Hag­gard has released a new song which calls for a US with­drawal from Iraq.

Lyrics:

Why don’t we lib­er­ate these United States,
We’re the ones that need it worst.
Let the rest of the world help us for a change,
And let’s rebuild Amer­ica first.

Our high­ways an’ bridges are fallin’ apart:
Who’s blessed an’ who has been cursed?
There’s things to be done all over the world,
But let’s rebuild Amer­ica first.

Who’s on the Hill and who’s watchin’ the val­ley?
An’ who’s in charge of it all?
God bless the army an’ God bless our lib­erty,
And back dump the rest of it all.

Yeah, men in posi­tion are backin’ away:
Free­dom is stuck in reverse.
Let’s get out of Iraq an’ get back on the track,
And let’s rebuild Amer­ica first.

Why don’t we lib­er­ate these United States,
We’re the ones who need it the most.
You think I’m blowin smoke? Boys it ain’t no joke.
I make twenty trips a year from coast to coast.

Watch the video clip and lis­ten to the song here (Real Player).

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  http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2006/02/19/merle-haggard-get-out-of-iraq/

[Clemenza]

Merle also endorsed John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. Let’s not forget that he wrote “Okie from Muskogee” for and about his father, as tongue-in-cheek tribute more than anything else.

[ETL]

He also wrote this:

Fightin’ Side Of Me: Merle Haggard
Written by Merle Haggard.
(Tree Publishing Company)
From “Songs I’ll Always Sing”, 1976, Capitol Records.

I hear people talkin’ bad,
About the way we have to live here in this country,
Harpin’ on the wars we fight,
An’ gripin’ ‘bout the way things oughta be.
An’ I don’t mind ‘em switchin’ sides,
An’ standin’ up for things they believe in.
When they’re runnin’ down my country, man,
They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Yeah, walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Runnin’ down the way of life,
Our fightin’ men have fought and died to keep.
If you don’t love it, leave it:
Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’.
If you’re runnin’ down my country, man,
You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
I read about some squirrely guy,
Who claims, he just don’t believe in fightin’.
An’ I wonder just how long,
The rest of us can count on bein’ free.
They love our milk an’ honey,
But they preach about some other way of livin’.
When they’re runnin’ down my country, hoss,
They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Yeah, walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Runnin’ down the way of life,
Our fightin’ men have fought and died to keep.
If you don’t love it, leave it:
Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’.
If you’re runnin’ down my country, man,
You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Yeah, walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Runnin’ down the way of life,
Our fightin’ men have fought and died to keep.
If you don’t love it, leave it:
Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’.
If you’re runnin’ down my country, man,
You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.

Listen to it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n552gP9X40

[re_nortex]

re_nortex:Plus he [Johnny Cash] was against the Iraq War.

ETL: So was Merle Haggard. He even wrote a song opposing the war.

I never cared for Johnny Cash's music, even dating back to the phrase ``...I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die'' from ``Folsom Prison Blues''. He was using language there that would later be a mainstay of rap. And ``Sunday Morning Coming Down'' is just another booze and drug song penned by the leftist Kris Kristofferson.

There is some Country music that I like, such as a lot of the songs sung by Roy Acuff and Jim Reeves. But my tastes run toward Christian music (especially traditional Southern Gospel) and inspirational, uplifting patriotic music. Of course, there are some contemporary artists such as Michael W. Smith who produce positive, Christ-centered music.

...which bring me to a point that I've long thought about but have been reluctant to raise. So here goes (from an old fuddy duddy):

The erudite Mark Levin's daily radio program is a daily must hear for me. The one and only negative I have is his weekly playing of ``America the Beautiful'' by Ray Charles (who fathered a dozen children by 9 different women). His questionable morals aside, I personally don't like the caterwauling and vocal histrionics in Charles' treatment of that song. My preferences would be that Mr. Levin (who we know visits FR) might find a more reverent and respectful recording of that beloved anthem performed by other artists.

[ETL]

my tastes run toward Christian music (especially traditional Southern Gospel) and inspirational, uplifting patriotic music.

Those Bill Gaither specials on TV are fantastic, aren't they.

[MrRobertPlant2009]

Merle is kind of all over the map. Depending on the day you ask him, he is proud of “Okie,” embarrassed by “Okie,” says “Okie” was written tongue in cheek, thinks it was deadly serious, loves it, hates it, or is indifferent to it.

There was a brilliant feature in Rolling Stone on him a few weeks back. Rolling Stone has spent the last year publishing these great profiles on music biz lifers - Kristofferson, Haggard, Ginger Baker, Lenny from Motorhead, etc.