A singer singing about his or her feelings for someone else is normal – be it pop or country or any other type of music. But it is rather un-normal for a performer to declare his love for another performer in a song.
But back in the mid 1970's – Merle Haggard had spent time touring with Dolly Parton and fell for Dolly – not just hard – but head over heels. And he described his feelings for Dolly in a song he titled "Always Wanting You."
He didn't mention Dolly by name but it was common knowledge that she was the object of his intended affections. And Merle did not try to hide the facts concerning his feelings for Dolly.
And Dolly's feelings for all of this?? She was quick to point out that she was happily married to Carl Dean and would never cheat on him. But that didn't stop Merle from pursuing her – even to the point of telephoning her at 3 a.m. and singing the song to her.
Neither Merle nor Dolly seemed to be embarrassed about the situation, as described in Merle's book "Sing Me Back Home: My Own Story."
But Dolly handled the situation with her usual grace and charm – saying that she was very flattered and that Merle was and would always be a special friend but that was it.
Haggard recorded "Always Wanting You" at Jack Clements Recording Studio in Nashville with Louise Mandrell and Ronnie Reno on vocals. The record also featured Mandrell, who toured with Merle for several months.
Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Always Wanting You" came on the charts Feb. 15, 1975, made it to No. 1 and was there for two weeks. It was his 38th charted song and was on the charts for 14 weeks.
Merle placed 106 songs on the country music charts between 1963 and 2015, including 38 No. 1s. Sixteen of his 106 country chart singles also scored on the pop music charts.
His 106 charted singles included duets with Bonnie Owens, Leona Williams, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Janie Fricke, Jewel and Gretchen Wilson.
Haggard received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 2006, Kennedy Center Honors in 2010 and was inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1994.
Merle Haggard died in 2016.
Doug Davis' "Story Behind the Song" airs on 98.7 – "Real Country" at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. "Sunday in the Country" gospel country airs on Sundays, 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. To listen online: download the app at Texarkana Radio Center or paste this URL into your browser: https://streamdb3web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KTFS.
Merle Haggard. (Photo courtesy Doug Davis)