Okie From Muskogee

Annotation

The song "Okie From Muskogee" (Capitol Records # 2626), referencing the Vietnam War draft, paid tribute to a patriotic, conservative, Middle America. Haggard, born in Bakersfield, California, in 1937, developed a long career as an American country and western song-writer and performer, especially known as a guitarist, vocalist, and fiddler. He became one of the most influential artists in the country music genre.1 Haggard also referenced the Vietnam War in the 1970 single "The Fightin' Side of Me" (Capitol # 2719), the 1972 single "I Wonder If They Ever Think About Me" (a P.O.W. song), the 1982 single "Are the Good Times Really Over" (Epic Records # 14-02894), and the song "Me and Crippled Soldiers" on the 1990 album Blue Jungle. During the Vietnam era, he also released the single "Soldier's Last Letter" (1971: Capitol Records # 3024). The song title referred to the city Muskogee, in the state of Oklahoma. Haggard co-wrote the song with Roy Edward Burris. Recorded in a studio on 17 July 1969, they released it as a single in September 1969. An alternative version appeared on the December 1969 album Okie From Muskogee (Capitol # ST-384), recorded live at The Civic Center, Muskogee, OK. The studio single version reached # 1 in the Billboard country charts on 15 November 1969, and stayed there for 4 weeks. It reached # 41 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It featured James Burton and Jerry Reed on guitar. Haggard said that he wrote the song after becoming disenchanted with Vietnam War demonstrations: "During Vietnam, there were all kinds of protests....America was at its peak and what the hell did these kids have to complain about? These soldiers were giving up their freedom and lives to make sure others could stay free. I wrote the song to support those soldiers".2 The song contained a trace of satire about American small-town life and Main Street, where drugs, outsiders and draft card burners were not welcome - in fact, they originally wrote the song in jest, under the influence of marijuana. But it soon turned into a serious composition and comment on the counter-culture. The song re-enforced patriotic, Conservative views, supporting the troops fighting in Vietnam and government foreign policy - it provides a representation of Richard Nixon's "silent majority".345 Haggard performed the song at the White House for Nixon, 17 March 1973.6Sources1The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Michael McCall, 2012)↩2theboot.com: Merle haggard okie from muskogee lyrics↩3American Popular Music (Rachel Rubin, 2001)↩4Merle Haggard: Poet of the Common Man : the Lyrics (Merle Haggard, 2002)↩5Controversies of the Music Industry (Richard D. Barnet, 2001)↩6CriticalPast: President Richard Nixon thanks performers Merle Haggard and the Osborne Brothers at the White House (film clip)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

The song "Okie From Muskogee" (Capitol Records # 2626), referencing the Vietnam War draft, paid tribute to a patriotic, conservative, Middle America. Haggard, born in Bakersfield, California, in 1937, developed a long career as an American country and western song-writer and performer, especially known as a guitarist, vocalist, and fiddler. He became one of the most influential artists in the country music genre.1 Haggard also referenced the Vietnam War in the 1970 single "The Fightin' Side of Me" (Capitol # 2719), the 1972 single "I Wonder If They Ever Think About Me" (a P.O.W. song), the 1982 single "Are the Good Times Really Over" (Epic Records # 14-02894), and the song "Me and Crippled Soldiers" on the 1990 album Blue Jungle. During the Vietnam era, he also released the single "Soldier's Last Letter" (1971: Capitol Records # 3024). The song title referred to the city Muskogee, in the state of Oklahoma. Haggard co-wrote the song with Roy Edward Burris. Recorded in a studio on 17 July 1969, they released it as a single in September 1969. An alternative version appeared on the December 1969 album Okie From Muskogee (Capitol # ST-384), recorded live at The Civic Center, Muskogee, OK. The studio single version reached # 1 in the Billboard country charts on 15 November 1969, and stayed there for 4 weeks. It reached # 41 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It featured James Burton and Jerry Reed on guitar. Haggard said that he wrote the song after becoming disenchanted with Vietnam War demonstrations: "During Vietnam, there were all kinds of protests....America was at its peak and what the hell did these kids have to complain about? These soldiers were giving up their freedom and lives to make sure others could stay free. I wrote the song to support those soldiers".2 The song contained a trace of satire about American small-town life and Main Street, where drugs, outsiders and draft card burners were not welcome - in fact, they originally wrote the song in jest, under the influence of marijuana. But it soon turned into a serious composition and comment on the counter-culture. The song re-enforced patriotic, Conservative views, supporting the troops fighting in Vietnam and government foreign policy - it provides a representation of Richard Nixon's "silent majority".345 Haggard performed the song at the White House for Nixon, 17 March 1973.6Answer / response records: Chesley Carroll - "Hippie From Mississippi" The Youngbloods - "Hippie From Olema" Rodd Rogers - "I'm Proud to Be a Hippie From Mississippi" C. Dean Draper - "The Only Hippie in Muskogee" O.B. McClinton - "Obie From Senatobie" Sources1The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Michael McCall, 2012)↩2theboot.com: Merle haggard okie from muskogee lyrics↩3American Popular Music (Rachel Rubin, 2001)↩4Merle Haggard: Poet of the Common Man : the Lyrics (Merle Haggard, 2002)↩5Controversies of the Music Industry (Richard D. Barnet, 2001)↩6CriticalPast: President Richard Nixon thanks performers Merle Haggard and the Osborne Brothers at the White House (film clip)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee / We don't take our trips on LSD / We don't burn our draft cards down on Main Street / We like livin' right, and bein' free / I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee Answer / Response records: Chesley Carroll - Hippie From Mississippi The Youngbloods - Hippie From Olema Rodd Rogers - I'm Proud to Be a Hippie From Mississippi C. Dean Draper - The Only Hippie in Muskogee O.B. McClinton - Obie From Senatobie

Notes

Capitol 2626 (S45-72822), stereo, "Mfd. by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries Inc."; "Okie From Muskogee" (Merle Haggard – Eddie Burris), 2:42, Blue Book Music (BMI); credited to Merle Haggard and The Strangers; produced by Ken Nelson. The picture sleeve shows a close-up colour photograph of Haggard with a guitar, titled "Okie From Muskogee / If I Had Left It Up To You", Capitol 2626. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Born 6 April 1937, Oildale, California, USA. Country singer-songwriter and pioneer of the Bakersfield Sound (Okie from Muskogee, The Fightin' Side of Me). Died 6 April 2016 at his home in Palo Cedro, California, USA. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Patriotic · Draft Card Burning · Draft · Answer to Muskogee

In collections

Draft Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]