Merle Haggard, R.I.P.

I wish a buck was still silver

It was back when the country was strong

Back before Elvis

Before the Vietnam war came along

Before The Beatles and 'Yesterday'

When a man could still work, still would

The best of the free life behind us now

And are the good times really over for good?

Are we rolling down hill

Like a snowball headed for Hell?

With no kind of chance

For the Flag or the Liberty Bell

Wish a Ford and a Chevy

Could still last ten years, like they should

Is the best of the free life behind us now?

Are the good times really over for good?

I wish Coke was still Cola

And a joint was a bad place to be

It was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV

Before microwave ovens

When a girl could still cook and still would

The best of the free life behind us now

Are the good times really over for good?

Are we rolling down hill

Like a snowball headed for Hell?

With no kind of chance

For the Flag or the Liberty Bell

Wish a Ford and a Chevy

Could still last ten years, like they should

Is the best of the free life behind us now?

Are the good times really over for good?

Stop rolling down hill

Like a snowball headed for Hell

Stand up for the Flag

And let's all ring the Liberty Bell

Let's make a Ford and a Chevy

Still last ten years like they should

The best of the free life is still yet to come

The good times ain't over for good