About the Song

Okie from Muskogee is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Merle Haggard. It was released in September 1969 as the first single and title track from the album Okie from Muskogee. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a major hit in Canada, reaching number one on the RPM Country Singles chart.

The song is a celebration of small-town American values and a rebuke of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Haggard sings about his pride in being from Muskogee, Oklahoma, a town he describes as a place where “we don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee” and “we don’t burn our draft cards down on Main Street.” The song’s lyrics were controversial at the time of its release, but it has since become a classic country music anthem.

Merle Haggard was one of the most popular and influential country music singers of all time. He was born in Oildale, California, in 1937. Haggard began his music career in the early 1960s, and he quickly became one of the leading figures in the Bakersfield sound, a subgenre of country music that was characterized by its hard-driving rhythms and its focus on working-class themes.

Haggard had a long and successful career, and he recorded dozens of hit albums and singles. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2010. Haggard died in 2016 at the age of 79.

Willie Nelson is another American country music legend. He was born in Abbott, Texas, in 1933. Nelson began his music career in the early 1960s, and he quickly became one of the most popular and influential country music singers of all time.

Nelson is known for his unique outlaw country sound, which is characterized by his relaxed singing style and his use of jazz and blues influences. He has recorded dozens of hit albums and singles, and he has won numerous awards, including 13 Grammy Awards. Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015.

Okie from Muskogee is a classic country music song that celebrates small-town American values. The song was controversial at the time of its release, but it has since become a beloved anthem for many people. Haggard and Nelson’s duet version of the song is a perfect example of the two singers’ unique talents, and it is a must-listen for any fan of country music.

Here are some additional details about the song:

• The song was written in response to the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
• Haggard was inspired to write the song after reading an article about a group of hippies who were protesting the Vietnam War.
• The song’s lyrics were controversial at the time of its release, but it has since become a classic country music anthem.
• Haggard and Nelson’s duet version of the song was released in 1970.
• The song has been covered by many other artists, including Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Toby Keith.

I hope this helps!

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