1.

(# 3 country hit)

I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am

Merle Haggard

© Blue Book Music, BMI

Things I learned in hobo jungle
Were things they never taught me in a class room
Like where to find a hand out
While bummin' through Chicago in the afternoon
Hey I'm not braggin' or complainin' I'm just talkin' to myself man to man
This ol' mental fat I'm chewin' didn't take a lotta doin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I guess I grew up a loner
I don't remember ever havin' any folks around
But I keep thumbin' through the phonebooks
And looking for my daddy's name in every town
And I meet lots of friendly people but I'll always wind up leavin' on the lam
Hey where I've been or where I'm goin' didn't take a lotta knowin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I never travel in a hurry
Because I got nobody waitin' for me anywhere
Home is anywhere I'm livin'
If it's sleepin' on some vacant bench in City Square
Or if I'm workin' on some road gang or just livin' off the fat of our great land
I never been nobody's idol but at least I got a title
And I take a lot of pride in what I am

I never been nobody's idol but at least I got a title
And I take a lot of pride in what I am
I take a lot of pride in what I am
I take a lot of pride in what I am

**********

2.

Who Will Buy The Wine

Billy Mize

© Penny And Kentucky Music, BMI

Not so long ago you held our baby's bottle
But the one you're holding now's a different kind
And you'd never know whose lips you'll soon be kissin'
Cause it all depends on who will buy the wine

Whoever sets 'em up and tips the waitress
Your kind of love just might as well be blind
And you'd never know whose lips you'll soon be kissin'
And it all depends on who will buy the wine
[ instrumental ]
The kind of life you're livin' since you left me
I'm sure is not the life you thought you chose
Your honky tonkin' world is not so flashy
Bright lights and booze is all it really knows

Whoever sets 'em up and tips the waitress
Your kind of love just might as well be blind
You just sit and wait to be somebody's baby
And it all depends on who will buy the wine

**********

3.

The Day The Rains Came

Merle Haggard

© Garland Music, ASCAP

Your strange love was what I found
The day the rains came down
And I remember we found shelter in the cave
With the rain clouds up above
In the darkness we found love
The day the rains came I became your slave

As the rains made rivers swell
I fell deeper in your spell
You took my hand and handed me your crown
If I could just live on
With these things I have known
I know that I'd be glad of what I'd found
[ instrumental ]
As the rains made rivers swell...

**********

4.

It Meant Goodbye To Me (When She Said Hello To Him)

Lefty Frizzell - Abe Mulkey

© Peer Int, BMI

Hmm hmm I made a big mistake when I introduced her to my friend
And gave him a chance to dance with her
As I watched them in the crowd I could hear my heart beat loud
Cause it meant goodbye to me when she said hello to him hmm hmm

She just held on to his hand when it was break time for the band
And it was plain to see that I'd lost out
So I slipped away to cry felt so low I could die
Cause it meant goodbye to me when she said hello to him hmm hmm

Is there anywhere to go where a broken heart won't show
Everyone must know what's wrong with me
They can tell bout my ways I go round lost in a daze
Cause it meant goodbye to me when she said hello to him hmm hmm

**********

5.

(# 41 country hit)

I Can't Hold Myself In Line

Merle Haggard

© Blue Book Music, BMI

I'm going off of the deep end
And I'm slowly losin' my mind
I disagree with the way I'm livin'
But I can't hold myself in line

They give me no reason for my drinkin'
But I can't stand myself at times
And you're better off to just leave and forget me
Cause I can't hold myself in line

Hey my weakness is stronger than I am
Guess I've always been a losin' kind
Now I'm closely ahead down the wrong road of life
And I can't hold myself in line

Yeah and I'm going off of the deep end
Hey I'm slowly losing my mind
And I disagree with the way I've been livin'
But I can't hold myself in line

**********

6.

I'm Bringin' Home Good News

Merle Haggard

© Blue Book Music, BMI

Yeah I'm bringin' home some good news
Got some things you'll be glad to hear
Like I'm leavin' town and I'll be back around
Just long enough to get my gear
There won't be any goodbye kisses
Well I'm puttin' on my leavin' shoes
This is the end we're through it's over
Yeah I'm bringin' home good news

Well I was sittin' downtown in a tavern
And I made up my mind to go
And I knew you would be so glad to be free
I just thought I'd call and let you know
Oh you can tell all your backdoor daddys
That your big daddy's done blew a fuse
This is the end we're through it's over
Yeah I'm bringin' home good news
[ instrumental ]
To you I been known as bad news
Well I'm changin' my first name
And I'm givin' you your freedom baby
That oughta raise some kinda change
You won't have to hide your milkman's slippers
I won't be lookin' around for clues
This is the end we're through it's over
Yeah I'm bringin' home good news

Good news there's some good news for you honey
I'm bringin' home some good news
I'm bringin' home some good news honey

**********

7.

Keep Me From Cryin' Today

Merle Haggard

© Blue Book Music, BMI

Hold me and love me and tell me
That you decided to stay
At least put it off till tomorrow
And keep me from cryin' today

Help me make ready for the heartache
That's soon will be coming my way
Consider how little I'm asking of you
And keep me from cryin' today

Keep me from cryin' today
Help me forget in your own special way
Let's save our goodbyes for tomorrow
And keep me from cryin' today
[ instrumental ]
Let's save our goodbyes for tomorrow
And keep me from cryin' today

**********

8.

I Just Want To Look At You One More Time

Merle Haggard

© Blue Book Music, BMI

I just wanna look at you one more time
I'll always like to know how much I leave behind
Let this be the picture that I'll always have in mind
I just wanna look at you one more time

If I can't do you right I'll never do you wrong
That's why I think it's best for me to move along
I won't ever be myself unless I'm free to roam
Give me one last moment here and I'll be gone

I just wanna look at you one more time...
[ instrumental ]
I just wanna look at you one more time...

**********

9.

Somewhere On Skid Row

Red Simpson

© Tree Pub, BMI

I'm gonna lose myself somewhere on Skid Row
Since I lost you I just don't seem to care
I'm gonna lose myself somewhere on Skid Row
So the wine won't let your mem'ry find me there

Well I've been everywhere running both day and night
With the pain of loving you right close behind
And I've tried everything and whether I'm wrong or right
There's just one way I found to ease my mind

And I'm gonna lose myself somewhere on Skid Row...

**********

10.

I'm Free

Leon Copeland

© Tree Pub, BMI

Though I haven't got a penny to my name
I've got wealth beyond compare just the same
In my mind the greatest treasure there could be
Just to live the way I live because I'm free

I'm not bound to anyone that takes my time
Or pleasures that will pray up on my mind
And I walk the roads and do just as I please
My life belongs to me cause I'm free

I'm free from social ties that tend to bind me
Or to live the life that wasn't meant for me
Competing for the things that have no meaning
I'm wealthy in my mind because I'm free
[ instrumental ]
The ribbons of the land that keep me a knowing
There's always something new for me to see
A whistle in the wind then I'll be going
To live the way I live because I'm free

Though I haven't got a penny to my name...

**********

11.

California Blues (Blue Yodel No. 4)

Jimmie Rodgers

© Peer Int, BMI

Well I'm goin' to California where they sleep out every night yeah
I'm goin' to California where they sleep out every night
I'm leavin' you mama cause you know you don't treat me right

Let me tell you something mama that you don't know
Let me tell you something good gal that you don't know
Well I'm a do-right papa and got a home everywhere I go yeah

I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here Lord Lord
I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here
I may ride the blinds I ain't got no railroad fare
[ instrumental ]
Listen to me mama while I sing this song
Listen to your daddy sing you this so lonesome song
You got me worried now but I won't be worried too long

I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here hey hey hey...

**********

12.

I Think We're Livin' In The Good Old Days

Red Simpson - Dean Holloway

© Tree Pub, BMI

I think we're livin' in the good old days
So cheer up friends and be glad
I think we're livin' in the good old days
The best anybody's ever had

The things we're doin' now may be memories later
So let's live it up all the way
And let's make the night one more night to remember
Tomorrow we'll look back on today

I think we're livin' in the good old days...
[ instrumental ]
Well when I hear people talkin' bout the good old days
There's one thing I can't understand
Well why not take advantage of today and tomorrow
And let's live it up while we can

I think we're livin' in the good old days...

**********