 Thank you Ladies and gentlemen if you would right now, how about a nice welcome for our mistress of ceremonies for today miss Bills ready Never mind what it says the most Ladies and gentlemen the president of the United States and Mrs. Reagan afternoon and Welcome to the season's last program of the young artists in performance at the White House To the viewers at home. Let me say if you hear bellowing in the background That's not my husband and Congress debating the budget. It's the sound of cattle For today, we were far away from Washington on a cattle ranch in the mountains of central, California Just as the as the beauty of this ranch is different from that of the White House The beauty of the music we're about to hear is distinctive from that of earlier shows While country and Western music isn't classical. It is classically American It's down home down to earth and downright fun Our guest artist today is a great country and Western music musician Merle Haggard a Performer who has won every major country music award He once recorded an album called the best of Merle Haggard and as you'll soon hear That's exactly what we're going to get this afternoon We'll also hear the best of Mark O'Connor an amazing young fiddler Who Merle believes is destined for future greatness and I think you will all agree In a few minutes Merle will introduce you to the members of his band the strangers But whenever country and Western music is played there really are no strangers So get your boots ready to stomp and your heart ready to romp and enjoy the music I Might get a little tired on a weekend But I go back working Come Monday morning, I'm right back with the proof Sing a little bit of this working man blues been trained to another town another town, but I go back working Your soul called Social and said me free since 1920 to show Forever and they got plenty and said me free Kind of a captive audience here We're gonna do a song for the president and Mrs. Reagan This came from a true story maybe it'll fit something that you did in your past somewhere the first time we They say time changes all it pertains to But your memory is stronger than time I guess Everything does change except what you choose to recall There's a million good day dreams to dream on but maybe You are My favorite memory of all like the night we made and slept on Like the winter we spent on Lake Shasta alone and closer than ever Before and I remember the occasion It was you made the whole thing of all There's a million good times I could dwell on but baby You are My favorite memory of all the first time they say time Changes all it pertains to but your memory is stronger than time I guess everything does change except what you choose to recall There's a million good day dreams to dream on but baby You are My favorite memory And other boots are still in style for man live but wear The sandals won't be seen all is still the roughest thing on campus There's still respect the college day They swear even squares can have a ball We still wave old glory down at the courthouse And why lightning is still the biggest thrill of all we still wait down at the courthouse Thank you Make sure that you're on and trade them for a package Sunshine and flower you got a half shower There'll be finish from heaven for you Thank you you should you should know better than that because in the business I was in if you didn't sing or dance or play an instrument you ended up making a speech Well, I just want to on behalf of all of us. Thank Merle and Mark You know in the comic strip Charlie Brown this morning Just curiously enough one of his little girlfriends was telling them about a strange uncle she had that liked the violin So she said he went down and bought one and then he went down to the symphony orchestra and watched him to see how it was done Went home and he couldn't play it at all So he was going back next week and sit closer. I think we've just we've just heard a young man and some other gentlemen up here Who sat very close? I think the music we've heard today reaches the heart of America Merle you've taken the hopes and heartbreaks of our people combined them with the Freedom and beauty of our land and ended up with the music of America. I Can't think of a better setting for this last of our series of performances for young American artists here in this Magnificent ranch in the spectacular Santa Ines Valley We can remember our roots and feel the power and strength of our past Inspired by the artist today and tomorrow We can rest assured that we have every resource we need to conquer the future As someone said the political life of a nation is only its most superficial aspect in order to know the inner life to really understand it you've got to find the in the heart in the literature the The philosophy and the arts and there you will find the ideas and the passion and the dreams of a whole people I would add in those dreams you will find their future If the American people stop long enough to understand the strength the morality and the courage that runs deep in our national character Then I believe we will have turned the corner in our struggle to renew our national life I'd like to thank Beverly Sills for bringing together such an outstanding group of stars Wonderful young American talent Nancy and I have enjoyed this program very much We hope that everyone viewing it has and that all of you have and I hope the rising generation of American artists this generation of Artists will be encouraged to meet the challenges ahead of them and Inspire to surpass the high standards of the American artists who've come before But most of all I hope all our countrymen will Take pride in the American cultural heritage the Respect that is rooted in the creativity that can only come from freedom So thank all of you for joining us and Merle had just struck me here that you might consider say a couple of more songs I have a couple a couple of songs and I'm going to do the sort of they're they're controversial and Nothing personal mr. President. I I understand this country Was in the mess it's in before you got there. I certainly I was too high to give up. It's got to come down again One of these days when the air clears up and the sun comes shining through Free bubble up eating some rainbows, too When they find out how to burn water and the gasoline car is gone When an airplane flies without any fuel and the sunlight heats our home When world-wide war is over and done and the dream of peace comes true We'll all be drinking some free bubble up and eat some rainbows, too Just think about what's in store When people start doing what they ought to be doing then we won't be booing no more When a fresh ladies and gentlemen just one last word that has to be said here And I hate to be interrupted the music, but We now have to go But I think all of us here should understand here on this as I say magnificent ranch is beautiful Valley the Who we're indebted to mr. And mrs. Gildred for making this place available You come up here where they can see you They are listen, this is just wonderful and we thank you all Incidentally the reason Nancy and I were late for lunch was we were up here on the hill watching him on a cutting horse out here demonstrating cutting a calf out of the herd and He leaned over while he was doing it and took the bridle off the horse No rains just the horse knows to knows that horse. That's the principle of cattle cutting knows to knows what that calf kept it from rejoining the herd and I want you to know that I leave here inspired. I can't wait to get back on Capitol Hill