Merle Haggard....Kern River

[texasrebelforever]

Welcome back home to Bakersfield Hag!! You are truly one of the best ever to sing country music!! Love ya always



[chevymudnut]

grew up in oildale love the pics

[dcpan61]

Oh Merle- you were chosen, brother.

[ldybugg56]

im still missin my home..I love Bakersfield

[TEXASGUNFIGHTER]

The True Balladeer....Merle Haggard was the only one who ever perfected the true country ballad. 

[thevalentinelegacy]

@TEXASGUNFIGHTER I dont disagree that he was Amazing at ballads but marty robbins i think was the only one better :)

[TheAmyarena]

OHHH, I thought I was the first to shoot a music video in the KRV ;)

[STR8RAIDER]

Kern River a.k.a. if you dont know about it dont get in!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[14truthisbeauty]

always a hauting tune

[twmals]

what a great place to fish

[MegaMilla09]

love merle...

[miehaga]

A great song - and a great singer....Love it...

[tnsinaz]

I've always loved this song, guess cause it's just plain country. So glad to hear it again.

[tnsinaz]

I've always loved this song, guess cause it's just plain country. So glad to hear it again.

[Boyce1725]

Just when I think that I have heard all of his songs, another one surfaces. Thanks for posting this one.

[farmladyful]

I just love this one sung by the greatest country singer ever. Love you Merle always.

[KernriverMerle]

I love this song :-)

[HerbDunn]

Love this song and Merle. I live in Oildale and grew up listing to Merle. Thanks so much for the upload

[itzphildoe2u]

I love the local photos. HAG's PLACE!

93308

[CherokeeGeema]

@itzphildoe2u

ty itz yes I have a few 08'ers :-)

[rentatrip1]

i was 20 ,it was 1973 , driving up to Lake Isabella - from off Hwy 5 out of L.A.- the windy road that clinks to the rocky face of the gorge on the lower Kern....

It was late Friday Night I was headed to Woofford Heights - as I drove , looking down into the dark black of the Kern ...I saw head-lights on deep in the water ...

Really, back then no cell phones all I could do was drive on, God I thought , that just happened because the battery & lights are still on ,

[xxxstretch]

@rentatrip1

Wow...I grew up in Lake Isabella and have driven that road many times...only once at night though. I now live in Los Angeles drive it the opposite way from time to time and see the sign at the mouth of the canyon showing the number of people lost in that relatively small stretch of water. Haunting. I can only imagine what was running through your mind that night.

[angierizzo2loveyou]

a song that is heartfelt , my dad an i would sing this song .

[TheReg54]

first time i herd this song

[CherokeeGeema]

@TheReg54

I think it was recorded in 1985

[randikash]

MrSouthernshaker , we do. We still have Merle!

And check out Dale Watson.

[berdoofool]

son of a gun

[MrSouthernshaker]

what an awesome song by the hag. wish we had singers like him today

[ldybugg05]

so many memories...i miss them alot

[greengoblyn13]

This song was my grandpapy's song to my grandma. The same song was played at his funeral almost 20 years after she died

[ldybugg05]

thank you again Gemma this song means so much for it was my home

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you ldybugg I'm so glad you enjoyed it .

[wobbitt]

FYI,,,,,,,,,,,, This is about a dog Merle lost in the Kern River when he lived by the mouth of the canyon.

[bakoboozer]

@wobbitt you're a moron! It was a horse, not a dog - FYI

[tommytruth]

Real country music

[tobymoe1]

my dad played this in bars when i was a kid. when i was maybe 11 years old, i asked him why merle would drown in water if it wasnt moving, and he said "not still water, like a distillery, it means he will drink himself to death." this was the most profound thing my young head could wrap around. best country song ever.

[CherokeeGeema]

@tobymoe1

lol well lets hope he meant like a swimming pool or a lake maybe.

[JudiNull]

This makes me soooooooo Homesick!!

[CherokeeGeema]

@JudiNull

Thank you one picture I forgot to add was Ethel's Corral. Most of my family rode horse's over those hills.

[glitzyorbit]

Bakersfield is my hometown as well. and most of this looks more than familiar. thank you for posting

[xannaxgood24]

I know two people that drown in the Kern river

[glitzyorbit]

ya .. when I was a kid the preachers son drowned in the Kern. I myself have never and will never willingly set foot in the Kern River.. but it is beautiful.

[CherokeeGeema]

@glitzyorbit

You are very welcome!

[lewdabutcha]

Don't for about Lake Isabella

Miss you grandma

[greenskeeper3000]

Very cool video for a very haunting song.

[ldybugg05]

i miss my home so much but will never go back there

[donottawaguitar]

i miss all the old rounders from ottawa there all dead r ip jimmy smith toughest man ever to sleep outside in ottawa ontario canada i hope there all nice and warm in heaven with a never empty bottle of plastic supreme merry christmass!

[ldybugg05]

i miss bakersfield and the country sound it had

[ldybugg05]

guess bakerfield is really mexifornia

[FUBOY3]

ive been in the Kern River floating down it and rafting and alomst drowned it is a mean piece of water!

[nearperfeckfoool]

Thank you.

[slicedalone2]

haha I work in those Oilfields it shows there. Thats cool.

[lps45s8tracks]

One of my all time favorite.Love it.

[ldybugg05]

i dont care who thinks they own it...just makes me miss my home

[melissafromca]

Yes Kern River is very dangerous, i have lost friends there as well......but also have went floating down Kern River back in the day.....

[f77e77l77i77x77]

how many of you know hes singing about his horse?!

hmmmmm.

.... that river is a beast!!!!

it scares me.ha.

[mesquitefan]

Kern River Land and Cattle Co. owend the Diamond A's, where we punched cows ..... this kinda music cuts a feller deeper than a 5/16 scant rope ever could, Just good, Purty work!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DeebaFilms]

I didn't see a single image of the kern river that I grew up on

[raidernick2]

Im goin to kern river 2day im so bored just thought id let u know

[Napkinatorz]

ive rafted , so fun

[slowhand111666]

i play this song every show i do, it is one that even people who don't like country are moved by. a lady at the last show came to me and said she used to work for Merle's chiropractor. she said Merle was a real nice down to earth man....she also stated that she had known four people who lost their lives in the Kern river. i am from the east coast.....someday i want to visit the area, after singing Merle's music all these yrs i feel a connection with the area....here's to the Hag

[SuperHeroNoobMan]

i dad worked with him...

i feel sorry for my dad... he broke his back and cant do anything...

i think merle was married to my dads sister.

[KittraKittra]

Oh well. Merle's music is an unending blessing to me that never disappoints.

I am contented.

[jhrunion]

thanks for posting this. this is one of my top ten all time favorite country songs. in fact 9 of the ten are by the hag. this is a beautiful, haunting song...

[sactown900]

I live there from 63-70. Thanks for posting. It brings back great memories of riding horses in Oildale.

[ldybugg05]

this song makes me so home sick

[jamesjones950]

Phew! Beautiful. What perfect control

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you james for your very kind comment. Sorry for the delay was having computer problems.

[socalwhiteboy08]

im from bakersfield kern river is liek my back yard..and i can relate to this song..because i lost a good friend to the kern river...:[ and i almost lost my life to the kern.....

[CherokeeGeema]

Hi socal ! Sorry for the lost of your friend, we also have lost 2 friends. Your an O' 8er?. We still have a few that tube the river we were in Kernville this month the river looked empty.

[hermanvandijk]

I always liked this kind of music very much.

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you very much herman .Sorry for the late response. I was waiting on some software.

[209977]

Im from from Brasil and i did my senior year at Ridgeview High School - Bakersfield

I love San Juaquin Valley

[CherokeeGeema]

209977 my you was along way from Brasil ! My grand kids when to Ridgeview as well. Hope you make it back soon!

[BigBrianinAK]

God Bless Merle and all you from the San Juaquin Valley! Bakersfield, Wasco, Delano, Earlimart, PORTERVILLE, Strathmore, Lindsay, Tulare, Visalia and all the rest...my roots. Thank you so much for posting this video/song. I hope you dont mind if I dedicate this song to the loving memory of my uncle Rick Martin, from Porterville, CA. This was one of his favorites from Merle(I'm currently stationed up in Alaska where it aint as damn beautiful as the Central San Juaquin!...thanks again for posting.

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you Brian and God Bless you also, you certainly Kern County. I've lived in most of them. My brother was born in Tulare, we lived in Visalia for awhile and friend's in Porterville. I can't take credit for Merle's song but I'm happy you liked it. I'm so sorry for your lost you must have been very close it's and honor on my part.

PS I think I'd trade place's with ya in the summer.

[albertkern]

Beautiful song,my name is Kern, so i found it..

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you albertkern! Happy Holiday's

[albertkern]

Happy new year to you. It is now just 12 in Switzerland and 2009 is starting hopefully..

[tuktukskagal]

Emotionally beautiful song;with incredible pictures to match.

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you tuktukskagal for your comment.I don't think most of the places have changed that much from many years ago.

Happy Holiday's

[tuktukskagal]

Where exactly is this? I apologise;but I am not from your

country.

I like the emotions conveyed in this song.

[CherokeeGeema]

tuktukskagal were on the west coast of California about 130 miles north of Los Angeles.

[tuktukskagal]

It is a really breathtaking place.Thank you for that info and the song too.Tuktuk.

[KittraKittra]

In my youth, I spent many a day at Three Rivers, Kern River, and that special hide-a-way at the base of Mount Shasta where the spring rushes pure & clear and the Blue Jays land at your feet ready to be fed.

I have home movies of my family floating Lake Shasta. Beautiful times.

I also recall the hurt inflicted by Merle's careless disrespect. He may not recall inviting my husband and I for a visit but, I rode for 3 days from Nashville to CA to be turned away at his door. I'll never forget.

[lastboatofday]

I am from North Florida and love Merle. Reading about you folks that lived near Lake Shasta is wonderful. Thanks for commenting. I wish I could stay longer, but I got to go pull the shades down and find my runaway baby.

[lastboatofday]

Hey KittraKittra, I meant "Runaway Momma" Good Catch - I

[slovacek59]

i love merle--but i would be real hurt also--thats what the booze can do to people

[Baddoggone]

Brings back found memories of my mom's side of the family that lived in Bakersfield & Bodfish. Use to drive that canyon every month to visit my folks. I remember the sign about the drowning they grew every year. I almost drown there when I was a kid.

[CherokeeGeema]

Hi Baddoggone yes it brings a lot of memories for me as well.They have added 5 more this summer,as Merle sings it's a mean peace of water. Ty for subscribing!

[olctrymtnman]

Heck of a video and a great song performed by a great singer!

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you olctrymtnman, I'm so glad too see him out performing again! Happy Holiday's

[iamjohnnyprice]

Great song thanks for posting and feel free to stop by and see some of my country classics and cover of this great Merle Haggard tune!

[CherokeeGeema]

Your more than welcome iamjohnnyprice.I sure will ty.Happy Holiday's

[aaronheathwatson]

where is kern river?

[jdscooby007]

the house is still there

[elcamenobob]

Been going to Kern river since Late 1950's. Where did you get the old pics of the house? I remember back then it used to have a sign calling it Hag"s Place

[iamjohnnyprice]

love this song thank you for posting

[iamjohnnyprice]

great job on the video as well.

[jhrunion]

one of the best ever country songs from the master!

[HAKALOOGY]

love it.. i drove through the canyon today to go to lake isabella.. lived in bakersfield all my life.. and i just recently noticed they change 7th standard road to Merle Haggard ..pretty cool

[axleroy]

this is my favorite hagg song out of many favorites I guess he use to fish kern river when he played in bakersfield everymoring he would go to this truck stop and wait till daylight and head up the kern to fish.

[KittraKittra]

In the United States, Bakersfield is now the second only to Los Angeles for the most badly polluted air. Gosh, I remember when it was just a little truckstop out in the middle of nowhere.

The only thing there was to do there was get gas and go to Buck Owens bar. (Which I was to young to do.)

[RightWingDown]

seriously?? I used to live there. glad I broke out, lol. Funny I never heard this song before....

[rickhorror]

hahaha no way san bernardino is worse than LA then LA is second...its so windy up there it just blows away..

[KittraKittra]

It makes sense that the smog would blow away but, I read it in a magazine so, it's got to be true...

[jburkhammer]

anyone know the story here?

[mixxiegurl]

merle and buck owens were best friends and merle stole bucks wife bonnie owens, and moved to lake shasta. this is about how he misses he home bakersfield and swimming in the kern...

[floorseats]

very beautiful song and video

[ds49]

one of his best!!!

[CherokeeGeema]

ty Dog I consider it and honor, you have a lot of memories on your site :-) I'm just learning how to use youtube.

[Faroutdog]

Familiar territory as my familly lives in Bodfish & Bakerfield

[CherokeeGeema]

Awesome Dog I'm sure you've seen some of the pic's before. When I was younger we lived in Isabella and had some friend's in Johnsondale. Did you know that Barbara Streisand and James Brolin stayed at a bed and breakfast (not sure what part) on their honeymoon.

[Faroutdog]

When I was a kid in the early 50's my uncle Charles Braden took me to Isabella (before the dam) & then to Von's (Now Bodfish) to show me his land. He owned the whole canyon & only thing there was the old adobe that his grandparents had built when they homesteaded in the 1899's. Great memories.

[CherokeeGeema]

Hi dog sorry for the delay puter trouble. How awesome! Those certainly would be some great memories. We've lost 3 more to the river in two day's, plus right after I posted the video they added two more numbers to the sign.

[Faroutdog]

So sorry to hear of your lose on the river. Most of my family is gone now, Just some cousins that still live in Kern Co. Great video, hope it's Ok., I put it on my site. Thanks

[rickhorror]

this is cool i use to go to the kern every year with my uncles

[CherokeeGeema]

ty rick,yes I know a few that still tube down the river. Year's ago we had to drive that canyon everyday its not for the ones who get car sick :-)

[erniehaze]

Great clip. Gives a real understanding of the song, seeing the magnificent country around the river. Thanks for posting!

[CherokeeGeema]

Thank you Ernie! The water is low right now but the snow from the Sierra Mountains are beginning to melt.