This week in 1968, 178 people were arrested as police battled protesters in Chicago, France exploded their first H-bomb, The National Student Association reported 221 major college protests since the start of the year in the United States, and a Bakersfield, Calif., musician had his fifth No. 1 record.

A lot of hit songs came from real life experiences—sometimes with a little added fiction.

According to Merle Haggard, his 1968 No. 1, “Mama Tried,” was one of those tunes!

Haggard commented, “I did take a few liberties in writing that song ... but for a good c...

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