The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde

Merle Haggard

About The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde

"The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde'" is a song written by American country music artists Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens and performed by Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in January 1968 as the first single and title track from the album The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde. The song was Haggard and The Strangers fourth number one on the U. S. country singles chart. The single spent two weeks at number one and a total of 14 weeks on the country chart.


Year:
2008
43 
#2

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Bonnie was a waitress in a small cafe
Clyde Barrow was the rounder that took her away
They both robbed and killed until both of them died
So goes the legend of Bonnie and Clyde

The poems that she wrote of the life that they led
Told of the lawmen left dying or dead
Some say that Clyde made her life a shame
But the legend made Bonnie the head of the game

The rampage grew wilder with each passing day
The odds growing smaller with each getaway
With the end growing closer, the harder they fought
With blood on their hands, they were bound to get caught

They drove back from town on one bright summer day
When a man they befriended stepped out in the way
With no thought of dyin' they pulled to the side
But death lay there waiting for Bonnie and Clyde

Two years or runnin' was ended that day
For robbin' and killin' they both had to pay
But we'll always remember how they lived and died
So goes the legend of Bonnie and Clyde

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Merle Haggard

Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music song writer, singer, guitarist, fiddler and instrumentalist. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster and the unique mix with the traditional country steel guitar sound, new vocal harmony styles in which the words are minimal, and a rough edge not heard on the more polished Nashville Sound recordings of the same era. more »

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Written by: BONNIE OWENS, MERLE HAGGARD

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Songwriter
Merle Haggard wrote "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" with songwriting legend Bonnie Owens, who was also his wife at the time.
Release Details
The song was released in 1968 as a single by Capitol Records.
Chart Success
"The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" was a chart-topping success for Haggard and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, becoming his third No. 1 hit.
Bonnie and Clyde Connection
The song is connected to the notorious criminal couple, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who were made infamous during the Great Depression.
Album
The song was also the title track of Haggard's sixth studio album, "The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde".
Folk Hero Theme
Like many of Haggard's songs, "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" offers a romantic view of American folk heroes.
Musical Style
The song immensely showcases Haggard's distinctive blend of country and western swing styles.
Recording
The session took place at the Capitol studio in Hollywood, California, with renowned recording engineer Hugh Davies.
Trivia
This tune came out the same year as the acclaimed Bonnie and Clyde movie, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.
Legacy
Despite decades passing since its release, "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" remains one of Merle Haggard's most recognized and celebrated tracks.
Cover Versions
Although the song is most famously performed by Merle Haggard, it has also been covered by several other artists, including country singer Tammy Wynette.
Song Duration
The original studio version of the song runs for a duration of 2 minutes and 09 seconds.
Composer Recognition
For their work on this track, Haggard and Owens received the prestigious BMI Songwriters Award.
B-Side
The B-side of the original single contained the song "I Started Loving You Again", which later became a stand-alone hit for Haggard.

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