I’ve been listening today to a lot of early Merle Haggard. He’s always been one of my biggest influences, particularly as a songwriter — although as a singer, particularly his work in the sixties, there was NOBODY as fluid or versatile, not even Elvis, as far as I’m concerned, and for me that’s saying a lot. Anyway, drawing water from the Merle well is always inspirational, and to drink such early vintage is heady stuff, which inspired me to write another drinking song.
Yes, my body wears the scars
from long nights spent at the bar;
I’ve grown old before my time
Become vintage, like this wine.
In my younger, bolder days
I followed wild and dangerous ways;
Now I’m tired and worn clear through
by those things I used to do.
If I could go back, try to undo
the ways I tried to get over you,
instead of drinking, try something new,
what would that get me, what would that prove?
There’s too much sorrow, too much pain;
don’t want to live through it all again.
I’d rather wear out before my time
than relive remembering when you were mine.
I’ve poured fortunes down the drain,
spent nights standing out in the rain,
grown sick and tired, and aged 10 years,
much like the whiskey I’ve got right here.
You should have seen me in my prime:
I was so reckless, it was sublime;
Now I’m just waiting around to see
how long it takes to lose all of me.
If I could go back, try to undo
the ways I tried to get over you,
instead of drinking, try something new,
what would that get me, what would that prove?
There’s too much sorrow, too much pain;
don’t want to live through it all again.
I’d rather wear out before my time
than relive remembering when you were mine.
16 JAN 2006
