Merle Haggard's song "Kern River Blues" is about his memories of leaving Bakersfield, California in the late 1970s. The song is also a tribute to the Kern River, which provided Haggard with comfort and strength.
What's in the song?
The song includes lyrics about the changes he saw in the region over time.
It also includes autobiographical references to his birthplace, his father's converted train car, and his impending death.
The song's final verse includes the line, "I dug my blues down in the river / But the old Kern River is dry"
How was it recorded?
Haggard recorded "Kern River Blues" on February 9, 2016 at his Hag Studios while battling pneumonia.
It was his last completed song, recorded 57 days before he died on April 6, 2016.
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
Im 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 likе the blues today
Therе 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 tonk's
The city died at night
When you closed down all the honky tonk's
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
