Merle Haggard - Mama Tried (1968 live TV performance)

[confederateghost1434]

WE need some more Merle Haggard's today in stead of these half baked girly boys they sign up today. Singing all these homo touchy feely songs with their damn gay voices....gonna cause me to ware out my damn 8 tracks.

[SmedleyDouwright]

I turned twentyone in prison and rode the carousel, boy did I ride, did I ride. LOL!

[bigd69er]

also the guitarist looks like if benny hill and quintin tarantino had a kid

[bigd69er]

the guitarist is quintin tarantinos dad....

[kdocki]

@bigd69er Haha! Yeah he kinda looks like him.

[bigd69er]

a merry go round with a camel.....huh

[bigd69er]

going to prison and merry go rounds dont mix....

[jrdill1929]

If there is ever a country singer better than him, his name will have to be GOD Haggard

[Telstar62a]

@jrdill1929  Well, close...his initials are J.C.... ;^)

[RickinFLA07]

who is the jackwagon who voted "dislike" on this? what an idiot.

[TheLtUhura]

I don't think Merle had to worry about looking macho. A performance setting was irrelevant to who he was.

[1977hmdv]

What a handsome man with a great voice. 

[race2run]

What a good lookin man and beautiful voice! He always had a good personality too. I really like ole Merle!!!!

[tuxedo55]

328 Likes.

1 Dislike.

Statistical impropability that only 1 dude in 325 misclicks. That´s speaks for Merle too.

[Emily41162]

May the Hag live forever! What a legend!

[ghostofhank]

I just did a cover of this, check it out if you get a chance. One of my all time favorites. - Ghost of Hank

[KiLLUHEMM81]

his fave song so dats why i herd it <3 (:

[thelinearpractiseday]

Still cool though! I hope Merle pounded him good!

[1990Reggiereg]

this is chucky's song( rip) chucky from your familly in blueberry bc

[tochtlitacallan]

Good song!!! Turned 21 in prison hahaha

[waynerjson]

The single most important country artist of all time. I would say Merle takes Ist, 2nd and 3rd place...all others fall somewhere else.

[Mssmalltown007]

Love this song<3 This is the best music out there.

[Trykhome]

Merle is so bad ass he could kick Chuck Norris' ass!

[allenmcintosh]

johnny cash gave merle his big breah away back when and another legend was born

[spoofsgalore87]

This was on the Billy Walker Country Carnival TV show from the 60's. Notice the "CC" on the bass drum. That's the reason for the carousel.

[Glowwriter]

I love the song, but the set doesn't really go with the whole rebel doing life in prison for murder. Kind of a weird situation! Fire the set designer and just let Merle sing on an empty stage! Awesome song!

[ojaioan]

Yayyyyy, for the 60's! even if it does look like it was filmed on the set of "The Dating Game" ! :)

[rocknjac58]

Is that Roy Nichols playing lead on the Jazzmaster?

[dacordova]

@rocknjac58 Not Roy Nichols....none of the band members are the Strangers.

[DirtRoadWarrior]

SEXY young Merle!! WOW!

[SuperAnon2012]

I Love this guy :) truly honest about his past

[gamer9302]

1 person is the reason he is doing life.

[tiranchula]

Grew up on this stuff... good stuff~ Dad had good taste in Music..~

[moonlit79]

Woo yeaaa love this shit! I am from boston but my dad was from alabama.. he showed me real music!

[nymanjohn]

Artists like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash made Country Music quite popular with babyboomers.They appealed to the restless, rebellious spirit to many of us who grew up in the late 1960s

[elkriverharmonicas]

Anybody else notice the juxtaposition of merle singing the words i turned 21 in prison doing life without parole on a carousel?

[redparrot61]

Merle's great, but what a strange set they chose for him. Carousel animals? Very peculiar.

[JayBBluejay]

@redparrot61 This was from a syndicated TV show "Country Carnival". I don't know if Billy Walker or Del Reeves was the host on this episode.

[you2449]

it was Mama's fault !

jk,

[maddi206]

I'm 55 and back then when I was young I use to think Merle was so handsome! He was so cool and smooth! I miss those days!!

[alanj390]

Songs like this one inspired me to learn to play guitar and listen to Country music, while most of my friends were into the 1960s Rock.

[7chill777]

They dont write em like this anymore, unfortunately.

[ozzwind]

@7chill777 They do, but today's radio won't play it. Thank God for XM.

[DirtRoadWarrior]

Wow, call me unknowledgeable, or ignorant, in the correct use of the word, but I'd never seen a young Merle until this video. I grew up listening to this cat (amongst dozens of other legends) and saw him at the Rosemont Theatre last year with Kris Kristopherson but had no idea that Merle used to look like a damn movie star!!

[Odysseus087]

@DirtRoadWarrior

The Good 'Ole Days!

[beatlenut65]

Classic!

[Looter92]

I was born in Folson Prison, serving life without parole.

Mama tried, mama tried, mama tried!

[quiltbee]

lovely memories.....

[zetasong]

...was learnt on this music....the blues had a baby.....soul music to me....z

[arhuxtable]

Back in 1968,Willie Nelson was just a songwriter and a session musican. Toby Keith probably wasn't born yet. I'm mentioning those names because Merle Haggard,Nelson and Keith performed this song together at a 2004 concert in Los Angeles,all with guitars and full beards. Haggard is grateful for while being on stage,nobody splashed him with beer or flipped him the bird. LOL

[notbendable]

I think this performance is from a show called "Billy Walker's Country Carnival".

[firebeaver39]

going to see brooks and dunn tonight and merle is playing too im pumped

[JPettyCash]

Love Ya Merle! Saw him once when I was very little. Would love to see him again.

[tiranchula]

Hag=Memories of my Dad.........................

[laslos3]

this is my mom's favorite song!

[slimydick23]

at 1:15 I would not let that guy in the background babysit my kids

[Siarne]

I love Merle.

[gtz1975]

Grateful Dead does a very good version... 

[uceonetyme]

i learned about this song from the big brother number two skate video... check it out if you get a chance... its the dudes from jackass before they came up

[rickyd0821]

Who is the panzy ass that created that set! Merle Haggard probably kicked his ass for being such a fruity ass. hahaha!

[pohatu771]

@rickyd0821 I'm guessing that this is the set of The Johnny Cash Show.

[AlbertaRose94]

@rickyd0821 Back in '68 Merle Haggard was still on the clean cut side. It wasn't until later in his career he grew the scruffy beard.

[QuibloGamingStudios]

@rickyd0821- he was probaly glad to get on TV

[Emily41162]

@rickyd0821 I had questions about the background also. The song and the set just don't match. What I recommend is a western scene and a train.

[Gatorrock787]

@Emily41162 This was the set for the TV show "Country Carnival". Probably a bad concept for songs like this.

[toscodav]

I'm sure Merle is thinking " What pansy designed this f**cking set!!!"

[bobthefreak09]

Where's the country artist who can draw from their experiences now days?

[danelsons]

Nothing wrong with a boy singing a song about his Mama.

Even a bad ass like Merle!

God Bless Mama's Everywhere!

[joeyshuny5]

I first heard this in "The Strangers" and it really stuck out in my mind. It really fit perfectly with the scene.

[WarrenPeece]

dis guy is da fuck.....

there's nuthin' else 2 say

[jonbadart]

Only a man as truly badass as Merle could pull that suit off

[klezmando]

Great song and performance. Ridiculous props and a Jazzmaster lead.

[aaronbeltrancabron79]

@klezmando isnt that a Jaguar.

[wormguts23]

it is in fact good eye bet it's worth a pretty penny today to

[Mralidostchandio]

best coountry musicain

[randytravisfan23]

thanks for uploading this song i love it

[Mralidostchandio]

one of the bets country musician

[danelsons]

A true outlaw of country music.

Country singers today couldn't even hold his pick.

[1150ram]

@danelsons God knows how true that really is and thank you for saying that !

[zetasong]

@danelsons 100% correct

[steinsteel]

@danelsons Your right, but please dont call them country singers

[dacordova]

@danelsons Such a true statement.....he was incredible when he sang live.

[peoplesilver]

homerun. time warp. feel so comfortable listening to him. my dad and grandad had a lot of his stuff. i got a ticket today to see him next month in Canada.

[riseabov]

agreed, Merle is the king

[3watchit]

Still better than any of this crap out today they call country!

[puppiefaces]

Forget the (very strange) carousel. This is a wonderful video, I LOVE IT. GREAT POSTING.

[whiskygirl43]

ur u dumass dipshit!!!!!

[DimeWylde]

@whiskygirl43 the funny thing is that I may be a dumbass but I have a pretty good hold on my grammar lady. UR U fuck off LMAO what a fuckin joke you are lol

MERLE IS STILL THE KING!!!!!

[heyheymymy78]

The guitarplayer uses a Fender Jaguar. So cool.....

[penreg]

it might have been "Pop goes the Country" haha gay horses

[70monticarlo]

What FOCKING show is this,? with the FOCKING gay ass carousel horses for a stage?You gotta be shittin' me!!!!!

[unfortunatebeam]

your lame

[beasttt00]

"focking" wtf?

[TheBleedr324]

some people say this sounds like me, kinda bad but a good tune

[mckacdc]

@TheBleedr324 he sounds like you?? lol

[TheBleedr324]

@mckacdc no he doesn't sound like me. I meant the person in the song sounds like me. lol

[thescreamingninnies]

He turned 21 in prison, doing time without parole... in front of a carousel horse?

[electricheartrecords]

doing LIFE without parole

[thescreamingninnies]

Pardon me. LIFE without parole...

I was so distracted by the carousel.

[BenAliGtor]

We used to perform this one back in high school in the early 70's- when we kinda got burned out on rock & decided to get into country (long before it became fashionable, I might add).

[psychkoala]

Great !

The Grateful Dead do a pretty good version of this Merle classic on their Skull & Roses LP (live).

[YSoitenly]

Great song! My favorite by Merle Haggard.

[cudaz426]

He has green on him . . .

[HarperLeeMockingbird]

turned 21 in prison doing life without parole thats rough on another note this song was used perfectly in the movie The Strangers

[unstopedpiano]

That stage is funny!! Great perfomance too!!

[sociallooter]

Its Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[vendanges3]

Stevie Ray Vaughn died in 1990 at the age of 35. So the lead guitar player in this video is about 40 and the video was made in the 60's so mathematicaly, it does't fit!!!!!!!

[oldschoolpunkchris1]

are you on glue thats not even close to srv

[sociallooter]

Who's SRV?

[oldschoolpunkchris1]

srv is stevie ray vayghn

[oldschoolpunkchris1]

srv is stevie ray vaughn

[babababakk]

are you whack?

[joescout]

wow nobody on this page with a sense of humor?

[sociallooter]

i once heer this guy John Cash he played songs

[vendanges3]

Can anyone tell me who the lead guitar player is on theat video?

Thank you

[raiderjblakk]

The guitar player is Roy Nichols....He was with merle for a LONG time. I don't know if he still is, though.

[vendanges3]

Sorry but I don't think that it is Roy Nichols in this video. At that time it was Roy who played with Merle and in this video it doesn't look like Roy so that is why I asked the question. And for your information Roy died in 2001.

[raiderjblakk]

after i read your last post, i agree with you 100%. i wasn't paying attention, and just assumed it was roy. he's the mystery guitarist.......but he's doing a good job.

[pat976]

@raiderjblakk no, Red Volkaert played with Merle for 7 years and is doing his thing now, so definitely not Roy Nichols anymore... I saw him live a couple of years ago when he opened fro Bob Dylan but I didn't recognize his guitar player.

[estelle715]

This could have been written about my son. No prison,though. We had some close calls! I always said he acted like he was raised in a barn!I did try,just as in the song!He is now 28 and expecting his 1st baby,a girl, in 3 mos! So in the end it was worth all the sleepless nights praying!

[mrcassidydaniel]

is tht ni**er hatin me

[rfpunx]

Excellent no doubt, but what the hell were they thinking with the stage set?

[blindwilliehighlight]

I made myself the same question, bro...

[mnhzmazingrace]

Do you really mean you don't get it ???

All momma's try to give their children a ride on the better side of life... he jumped off the ride she was wishing for him.

[jessejacktunes]

This was from the Del Reeves Country Carnival show

[machenderson]

thats the " WAY " it was back in the 60's, we have grown up , havent we??

[uzi4u182]

this IS the best version of this song!!

[powershot082296]

i AGREE.

i first heard this on The Strangers.

it's an amazing songg. it's when that guy is getting shot(almost, right?).

i looove this song. it's amaziiing(:

[edfoundhizblade]

110%cia carousel prgrmmng 110%

[edfoundhizblade]

gtr pjlyr= LSDd@ 1:15im nthrlnds

[NevadaBoss]

cancer?

f*ck cancer!!!

aint no cancer half as tough as Merle.

here's some advice to any potential disease...

dont get on his fightin' side...!

rave on merle!

[yoass007]

What???? i think you are stupid.......get a real life

[bumperu]

Hey that Bass player looks like a demented John Lithgow.

[johnrunion]

sadly, he does!

[mcmoppen]

I know this song from "BIG BROTHER NUMBER TWO" Skateboardvideo...

TOP!!!

[buntl]

I hadn't heard this song before until I watch the movie The Strangers. It's the perfect song for the movie and I really like it.

[nyyankees09234]

hahaha i know it was at that scary part and then in the back round its like "mama tried, mama tried to raise me better."

[garatina101]

your song is on the strangers

[mina12071]

Good looks....great singin'

Love ya Merle!!!!

[SoftWolfTread]

Merle kicks all your asses!

[jondawg83]

I'm pretty close to being the literal response to this song. God bless mamma. God bless us all.

[cnm2908]

Warren Beatty's evil twin, LOL.

[songwriter1951]

The show was called "Country Carnival" and has shown on RFDTV a number of times. Great artist, even if this show didn't present him that well ( in my opinion). Great post, thanks!

[miyazaki36]

Wonder what show this is? The drum has CC, with the set of a carousel - was there ever a show called country carousel?

[JackGrider]

does anyone know the show this was from? weird set but its still HAG !

[tpappan33]

i liked this part in the strangers

[meatalgearsolidman64]

me too

[powershot082296]

it was a grreeeeeeeat part.

[rrdoran]

I wonder what Martin model that is

[lilsnoopybabe]

I agree w/you on the strangers thing richardferran...i saw that movie and it was creepy..and the ending sucked too

[Bigbadben7]

The Fucking King of Country!

[420DVD]

i turned 21 in prison

[jerzyboi69]

Hag rules!

[Johi2410]

Interesting camera angles. I like how the video is done! And great song (not the Strangers backing him - good anyway)!!

[70monticarlo]

Righteous!!!

[6thizzel]

this song kind of reminds me of Johnny Cash

[richardferran]

this song is freggin creepy in the strangers

[jblakele]

One of the baddest mother fuckers that ever sang!

[telestratmaster]

This is from a syndicated TV program called "Country Carnival" hosted by the singer Del Reeves. The backing band are not Hag's...probably the house band.

[crosbystillsnash68]

what a stupid soundstage...great song though

[acountrygent]

He didn't "bust out" of prison. He was in for burglary. Did his time. Got paroled.

Don't blame funky TV audio for his backup band's weakness

[texasdrunk82]

there ain't a prison that he couldn't bust out of

[jonnyjaywick]

I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole...GENIUS.

[BloodNGutts]

You are absolutely right he is a genius

[BloodNGutts]

Love Merle

[radioactivewasp]

cool song, cool suit and cool set

[fabmark1234]

wow. cool video. Who's the losers backing him up?