I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am

Merle Haggard, Merle Haggard & the Strangers

About I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am

"I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in October 1968 as the only single from his album Pride in What I Am. "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" peaked at number three on the U. S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks in January 1969. The song was covered by Dean Martin and released as a single in mid-1969. A tape recorder version of this song was played at the funeral of late Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant.  


Year:
1996
2:47
117 

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Things I learned in a hobo jungle
Were things they never taught me in a class room
Like where to find a hand out
While bummin' through Chicago in the afternoon

Hey, I'm not braggin' or complainin'
I'm just talkin' to myself man-to-man
This ol' mental fat I'm chewin' didn't take a lotta doin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I guess I grew up a loner
I don't remember ever havin' any folks around
But I keep thumbin' through the phonebooks
And looking for my daddy's name in every town

And I meet lots of friendly people
But I'll always wind up leavin' on the lam
Hey, where I've been or where I'm goin'
Didn't take a lotta knowin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I never travel in a hurry
Because I got nobody waitin' for me anywhere
Home is anywhere I'm livin'
If it's sleepin' on some vacant bench in City Square

Or if I'm workin' on some road gang
Or just livin' off the fat of our great land
I never been nobody's idol but at least I got a title
And I take a lot of pride in what I am

I never been nobody's idol but at least I got a title
And I take a lot of pride in what I am

I take a lot of pride in what I am
I take a lot of pride in what I am

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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: MERLE HAGGARD

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

About the Song Creation
"I Take a Lot of Pride In What I Am" is a song co-written by country singer Merle Haggard. He co-wrote this song with Red Simpson, a fellow Bakersfield sound pioneer.
Release Information
The song was originally released in the year 1968 as part of Merle Haggard's album "Mama Tried."
Chart Success
The song quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles, where it stayed for four weeks.
Dean Martin Version
Dean Martin, a popular American singer and actor, covered the song in 1973 for his album called "Dean 'Tex' Martin: Country Style."
Personal Significance
The song follows a common theme in Haggard's work – highlighting the pride and dignity of being a working-class citizen. Haggard, himself from a poor background, often reflected similar sentiments in his lyrics.
Live Performances
"I Take a Lot of Pride In What I Am" was a staple in Merle Haggard's live shows, regularly included in his setlists.
Subsequent Covers
The song hasn't just been covered by Dean Martin. Over the years, artists like Doobie Brothers and Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia have included the song in their performances.
Cultural Impact
"I Take a Lot of Pride In What I Am" is considered a classic in the country music genre, frequently cited as an example of the "Bakersfield sound" that Haggard helped popularize.
Album Success
Both Haggard's original and Martin's cover were key parts of successful albums. Haggard's "Mama Tried" reached number 4 on the Billboard country albums list, while Martin's version helped "Dean 'Tex' Martin: Country Style" reach number 42 on the country album charts.
Legacy
Despite being over 50 years old, "I Take a Lot of Pride In What I Am" is still played frequently on country radio stations and has over 1 million plays on Spotify.

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