Merle Haggard is widely regarded as one of country music’s all-time greats. He stands alongside George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash on the metaphorical Mt. Rushmore of country music. Throughout his career, the California singer-songwriter had 38 No. 1 hits. “Sing Me Back Home” was one of them.
It is well known that Haggard spent his early adulthood in prison for a failed robbery attempt. Haggard wrote many songs while imprisoned at San Quentin State Prison, dreaming of freedom and a life beyond the confines of a cell.
“Sing Me Back Home” came from the prison captive himself. He released the song in 1967 as the first single and the title track of his record, Sing Me Back Home. The song spent two weeks at No. 1 and 17 weeks on the country charts. The song was Merle Haggard and The Strangers’ third No. 1 hit. And it’s one of the saddest country songs ever written and recorded.
Watch the video below :
