Haggard, Merle - Footlights Lyrics

Merle wrote this ,,, he learned about lefty’s death ,,, he didn’t want to perform that night , that inspired this great song !!!!!!!

Why does ppl dislike this video?

You were at 999 likes. Good song so I figured I'd give you your thousand

Great stuff.

Aint we all tried to kick them footlights out one last time.......

*Merle* : bigger hillbilly star

*MERLES STILL THE KING*

Who in the fuck are the 12 idiots that gave this a thumbs down? Updated to 23 idiots.

Such a heartfelt, painful song about aging in the music business. Merle was such a gifted singer.

And the crowd goes nearly wild

I live the kinda life most men only dream of
I make my livin' writin' songs and singin' them
But I'm forty-one years old and I ain't got no place to go
When it's over
So I hide my age and make the stage and
Try to kick the footlights out again

I throw my old guitar across the stage and
Then my bassman takes the ball
And the crowd goes nearly wild to see
My guitar nearly fall
After twenty years of pickin' we're still alive
And kickin' and kickin' down the wall
Tonight we'll kick the footlights out
And walk away without a curtain call

Tonight we'll kick the footlights out again
And try to hide the mood we're really in
Might not put on our old Instamatic grin
Tonight we'll kick the footlights out again

I live the kinda life most men only dream of
And I make my livin' writin' songs and singin' them
But I'm fortysome years old and I ain't got no place to go
When it's over
So I hide my age and make the stage and
Try to kick the footlights out again

Old the old singers is just about gone and now look what people listen to you can't even find a good CD know more the best merle haggard footlights

Merle. Enough Said.

I'm almost 41 years old and I believe I'm gonna try to kick them Footlights out one more time again! #Raise Hell Hell! Love you Merle! R.I.P

His greatest song!!

He does a great job on this song! ( So does Joe NICHOLS! !!)

The best is only that persons belief, doesn't make it correct or wrong.

The hag was and will always be one of the best things to ever happen to country music. His son Ben is following in his footsteps, and sounds so much like merle its scary. He's making his daddy and the real country music world proud!

❤💚💜💛

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that this sounds so good. Because let's call it like it is: Merle Haggard is the greatest country singing star that ever was. That's all there is to it.

God damn right, the HAG is the greatest

Danny Hollander u are absolutely right my friend the greatest indeed

Everyday is mandatory Merle

You could say that again. Amen

THE. GREATEST. EVER.

best singer ever , never be another , can come close to this man

he sure put on one hell of a show

I have heard in more than one of Merle's interviews that this was his favorite song, believe it or not. That is what I heard and I was surprised that not only this was it, but that he would name one.

Merle Haggard you are truly my Icon, never ever be another as good as you, Awesome Awesome dont come any better. The first I ever heard you sing was in the summer of 1966, The Lonesome Fugtive, you bought a giutara Guitar from one of my cousins, Ray Thompson at Atoka, Okla. At Freddys Barn Dance. Ray was murdered 2 mos. later

So sad to lose Merle today. Heaven can now listen to those ol' drinkin and cheatin songs anytime now because now they have Haggard and Jones 😢 R.I.P. Merle

I had tickets to see him last year in May, then he was lost, I wish I could've said I seen him😢

The Amazing Merle Haggard. Love any song the man sings.

Never heard so much emotion and preciseness in a merle song, one of my favorites, thank you mr haggard

A great song from Merle's 1979 album "Serving 190 Proof".

This song should've hit the top. I think he'd make it in today's country, he would just adapt to todays style....very talented man.

Darrell Cordova he would never adapt to new country hes outlaw country as it comes sorry to say that

Darrell Cordova amen to that brother. no rap/pop and hip hop with a fake drawl for this guy ever. Waylon, George and Merle must weep when they see what happened to what passes as country today.

Cody Canada & The Departed just did a cover of this song with REK. Check it out!

Country singers don't make it in today's country and neither would he. Not in the mainstream anyway

@Austin Bommarito outlaw country doesn't mean anything, it's another term Nashville came up with to sell to people who weren't buying what they were branding as contemporary

Yep, you're correct.....Merle plays the solo. He actually plays most of the lead in this song. No James Burton here....although Merle did employ skills quite often....as well as Glen Campbells'

george said this was his fav merele tune RIP possum gonna miss ya

I'm pretty sure the guitar lead is by James Burton. He played great stuff on a lot of Merle's records in the 60s and 70s.

Same james burton who played with the late great elvis

what a great song

Hank Jr. put this on one of his albuns, I worked for Hank one night and my wife sit on stage with him ,she gone now past away in 1996 lung cance, she thought that was the best time she ever had. P.S/ that was in Clvis Ca.

well said fuck new country-hag is the best-total package

So glad to find that others feel the same as me! My dad Charles B. Cryer (retired army) turned me on to merle with a akai reel to reel from vietnam He has crossed over 02/05/10 RIP I hear merle and then I hear my Daddy~

i tell ppl bout this song most havent heard it is by far one of the best

The only beef I have with the "Hag" is that he supported Clinton in the last election ... of course she was better than the eventual winner ....

Listen to this song, then listen to the shit they try and pass off as 'country' today, this is REAL country!!

9 years later the shit has turned into diarrhea... Country music is dead.. R.I.P.

Does anyone know this song was about Johnny Cash???

Questa sarà l'inno dei footlights squadra amatoriale di Solaro-mi-;origgio-va-!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Know it was on TNT back when it was TNT (the Nashville Network). I saw that myself, and yes, sir, it was awesome.

hag!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easily one of my favorites, if not #1.

"If I Could Only Fly" is pretty amazing as well. "Someday When Things Are Good" is in the conversation, that's in terms of songwriting.

Saddest thing is if Hag showed up in Nashville today at age 24 or so, they'd ask where his seashell necklace is and slam the door in his face.

Better treasure the Hag.

That man's voice remains, to this day, as smooth as the finest bourbon. This is one of my favorites songs of his. (There are so many!) He's a brilliant singer, musician, and songwriter. A true American icon.

I was lucky enough to see him in Muskogee, OK believe it or not. It was one of the top 5 shows I've ever seen. The crowd was wild and he was definitely ON. I'll take Merle over any of the "new" kids singing fake country today.

Hey I'm from muskogee my parents were at that concert at the civic center. Then he was in ft. Gibson in 06 I believe..you from muskogee?

I've been a 'Hag' fan a long time. Never heard that one before. I don't know why. Thanks for posting.