I sit here and stare at this headline – speechless – empty. Facebook and the Internet oozing after a few minutes over already. The whole (Country Music) world is in shock. This is by far not the first tribute, I write. It is rather the one I do not want to write, and who voluntarily write.
In the few minutes I have read sentences like “He was a great singer”, “His music will live on,” “I liked him “or” My mother has him precisely determined at heaven welcomes “(the latter message came from the United States). What I write to be this giant fair? When I try only partially, to write something about his life or his career, I sit next week here.
No, I describe just what I just going through the head. He is “the” artist, I have never seen and always wanted to see. Why did I in 1988, when a student without really much money, not yet 132 – DM paid, taken the further journey to Munich plus one night in buying, instead of 88, – to drive DM to Frankfurt (in Munich there was Merle Haggard and Willie, in Frankfurt “only” Willie)? Now it is too late, alas! Tons of records, CDs and videos I have “gekloppt in the skull”. The addiction to Hag wanted somehow stop but are lived.
There are two artists, the main place in my heart could easily can take. Waylon at least I have seen several times, Hag hand never. But both had to take the place behind Johnny Cash. I was once given the many Johnny Cash concerts that I was allowed to see, asked by a man if I one of these many Johnny Cash shows would not exchange for seeing his brother Tommy times live. The question was not yet made, as my loud “no” could be heard. A few minutes ago I asked myself this question again, in reference to “The Hag”. I have denied me this idea for years. I maintain to see Merle hope. Once only.
Now it’s too late. Besides the fact that it indeed would not be possible even if the “Poet Of The Common Man” would still be alive, as this morning, overflowing as Facebook “Happy Birthday Hag” messages. Yes of course! Of course, I would not trade a Cash concert, even two, and if necessary even three! 1994 I had an invitation to record the first “Marty Party” for TNN. Marty Stuart had Merle Haggard invited as a guest, and I had been invited by Marty manager to sit in the audience. I had seen him, maybe even met in person, who knows. But no, it was not to be.
And now I sit here and not stare at the title because I have written enough to no longer be seen. Maybe you miss, dear readers, at this point the usual personal data. With all due respect, you are reading a magazine about country music, and I speak of Merle Haggard. Who please must because explain who is Merle Haggard when he / she hears country music and / or an interest in it?
The whole time I’m looking for a line of text that matches my emotional state, now just. “I’ll never swim Kern River again …” “Are the good times really over …” The songs blend together. Merle Haggard song, of course. I’m trying to determine the tenth time to come to merlehaggard.com – in vain. Just as at 12.09.2003, as johnnycash.com was overloaded for hours. And we also have the dimension of this giant. I think of people whose Johnny Cash Merle Haggard was. Barry, Jutta, a man from the United States named Dale Houston, through whose posting I saw the news and knew immediately that this can not be a duck.
As I write these lines here, I see on Facebook only Merle Haggard. Perhaps this is the only true appreciation of a man whose songs are the test of time, always bought the plates and whose DVDs are running hot in the future. We mourn the greatest living country singer whose death leaves an indescribable hole in this genre. The Country Music has just lost her heart.
Ben Haggard, son and lead guitarist for the “Strangers” has posted a very touching photo, along with the news of the death of his father. The son holding his father’s hand. In the end it is this bond that reaches us and moved. Our thoughts and sympathy should apply the family, his wife Teresa and the children.
I just saw a post my friend and colleague Bernd Wenserski, enrich the wonderful articles of this magazine Country.de. We are both big Eric Church fans. Bernd posted the link to the song “Pledge Allegiance To The Hag” and has the following words written: “Thanks Hag … let’s celebrate a legend” There is then nothing more to add. Let these giants in dignity and gratitude celebrate
Oh, I almost forgot it: Happy birthday, Hag, and rest in peace! Thanks for the music that has accompanied our lives and continue to accompany, thank you for all ‘the great songs, and thanks for the emotions that trigger your songs and trigger further. “… Like the hippies out in San Francisco do and still do …” “First thing I remember knowin ‘…” “I caught this ramblin’ fever long ago …” “It’s a big job just gettin ‘by with nine kids and a wife … “” Turn me loose, set me free, somewhere in the middle of Montana … “” Sing me back home with a song I used to hear, make my old memories come alive. Take me away and turn back the years, sing me back home before I the. “
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