Merle Haggard (1937-2016) Tribute List

Country music legend Merle Haggard died on April 6, 2016 at the age of 79. Many country songs are about drinking too much liquor and getting in trouble with the law, but for most artists, those are just songs. Merle Haggard, for better and worse, lived those songs. He was in prison as a very young man. While in prison he saw Johnny Cash perform and realized that music could give him a way to start over. Haggard went on to a hugely respected and successful career, even one year hitting the charts with 8 different number one singles. Here are twelve vocabulary words from the lyrics Merle Haggard wrote or recorded and made his own.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. meek
    humble in spirit or manner
    One and only rebel child
    From a family meek and mild
    My mama seemed to know what lay in store
    Despite all my Sunday learning
    Towards the bad I kept on turning
    Till Mama couldn't hold me anymore
    - Mama Tried
  2. vacant
    not containing anyone or anything; unfilled or unoccupied
    Home is anywhere I'm livin',
    If it's sleepin' on some vacant bench in City Square,
    Or if I'm workin' on some road gang,
    Or just livin' off the fat of our great land.
    I never been nobody's idol, But at least I got a title,
    And I take alot of pride in what I am.
    - I Take A lot of Pride in What I Am
  3. yearning
    prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
    I've got a yearning to hold you tight
    A burning desire I live with day and night
    Everything I lose keeps on hanging on
    This feeling isn't leaving and by now it should be gone.
    - I've Got A Yearning
  4. cease
    put an end to a state or an activity
    If he ever gets to you I know he'll ignite the flame
    And it hurts to know how close he really came
    Last night you both kept dancing when the music ceased to play
    Is it all over do you still love me or am I standing in your way.
    - Am I Standing in Your Way
  5. rounder
    a dissolute person
    Thought I was a gambler I broke every shark in town
    Until I met a rounder who called all I put down
    I put the cards on the table and he drew an ace high hand
    He bet his watch and I called it and lost my money like a man.
    - Gambling Polka Dot Blues
  6. seldom
    not often
    A christian Mom who had the strength for life the way she did
    Then to pull that apron off and do the Charleston for us kids
    Dad a quiet man who's gentle voice was seldom heard
    Who could borrow money at the bank simply on his word.
    - The Roots of My Raising
  7. bygone
    well in the past; former
    You were here we loved now you're gone
    Why can't you let bygones be bygones and stay gone
    You always find the wrong time to come around and call
    Ain't your mem'ry got no pride at all.
    - Ain't Your Mem'ry Got No Pride at All
  8. lingo
    a characteristic language of a particular group
    You are the kind that loves to hear
    Sweet love words whispered in your ear
    But I'm a silent man
    I don't know the lingo
    - When it Rains it Pours
  9. caress
    touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
    Oh, the sea of heartbreak, lost love an' loneliness
    Memories of your caress, so divine
    I wish you were mine again, my dear
    I am on this sea of tears
    Sea of heartbreak.
    - Sea of Heartbreak
  10. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
    I can't seem to justify your leavin' me
    I'm bewildered as to how it all came down
    I thought everything was fine until your phone call
    The call that turned my world around
    - A Place to Fall Apart
  11. mingle
    bring or combine together or with something else
    Our lives came together
    Somehow we came to mingle for a while
    Like two colors of the rainbow
    We blended well together for a while
    But I won't ever anchor down
    The Lord above has numbered all my days
    I'm just driftwood
    And I think it's time I drifted on aways
    - Driftwood
  12. pertain
    be relevant to
    The first time we met
    Is a favorite memory of mine
    They say time changes all it pertains to
    But your memory is stronger than time
    - My Favorite Memory
Created on Wed Apr 06 13:58:48 EDT 2016 (updated Wed Apr 06 16:05:24 EDT 2016)

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