A Man With a Question

A Man With a Question



Are the Good Times Really Over for Good?

Wish a buck was still silver.

It was, back when the country was strong.

Back before Elvis; before the Vietnam war came along.

Before The Beatles and "Yesterday",

When a man could still work, and still would.

Is the best of the free life behind us now?

And are the good times really over for good?


Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?

With no kind of chance for the Flag or the Liberty bell.

Wish a Ford and a Chevy,

Could still last ten years, like they should.

Is the best of the free life behind us now?

Are the good times really over for good?


I wish coke was still cola,

And a joint was a bad place to be.

And it was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV.

Before microwave ovens,

When a girl could still cook, and still would.

Is the best of the free life behind us now?

Are the good times really over for good?


Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?

With no kind of chance for the Flag, the Liberty bell?

Wish a Ford and a Chevy,

Could still last ten years, like they should.

Is the best of the free life behind us now?

Are the good times really over for good?


Stop rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell.

Stand up for the Flag and let's all ring the Liberty bell.

Let's make a Ford and a Chevy,

Still last ten years like they should.

'Cos the best of the free life is still yet to come,

The good times ain't over for good.


That was from Merle Haggard's 1981 album Big City.

Twenty-eight years later his question is more pertinent than ever.

(h/t to Gator in the Desert for the inspiration for this post.)