Leonard
Merle Haggard
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[Chorus] When Leonard finally came to California He was twenty-one years old, as I recall He loved to write a song and pick on the guitar And he came to hang a gold one on the wall The town in which he lived is not important But you'll know which town I mean by the time I'm through He soon became a famous entertainer But Leonard was a name he never used He was on his way to having what he wanted Just about as close as one could be Hey, once he even followed Elvis Presley And he wrote a lot of country songs for me But he laid it all aside to follow Jesus For years he chose to let his music go But preaching wasn't really meant for Leonard But how in the hell was Leonard s'posed to know Well, life began to twist it's way around him And I wondered how he carried such a load He came back again to try his luck in music And lost his wife and family on the road After that he seemed to bog down even deeper And I saw what booze and pills could really do And I wondered if I'd ever see him sober But I forgot about a friend that Leonard knew Well, Leonard gave me lots of inspiration He helped teach me how to write a country song And he even brought around a bag of groceries Hey, back before Muskogee came along Really, I'm not trying to hide his show name Or the town in which this episode began Somehow I had to write a song for old Tommy If just to see the smilin' faces in the band [Chorus]
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10 facts about this song
Song Creation"Leonard" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard. The song was released in July 1981 as the fourth single from his album "Big City".
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Tribute to FriendThe song is a tribute to Haggard's friend and fellow country music singer, Tommy Collins, whose birth name was Leonard Sipes.
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Chart Performance"Leonard" was a significant hit for Haggard. It peaked at No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
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Musical StyleLike many of Haggard's songs, "Leonard" exemplifies the Bakersfield sound—a subgenre of country music characterized by a hard-edged honky-tonk style with electric instrumentation, close harmony, and a raw, gritty sound.
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BackstoryMerle Haggard and Tommy Collins were quite close in real life, and the song "Leonard" reflects their friendship. The lyrics reveal details about Collins's life and career, including his struggle with alcoholism.
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Popular ReceptionFans and critics received "Leonard" positively. They often praise the song for its sincere and heartfelt depiction of Tommy Collins.
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Writer’s CreditingWhile Haggard wrote many of his songs, "Leonard" is particularly unique in that it was written solely by Haggard himself and dedicated to his friend.
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Song LyricsOne of the noteworthy features of "Leonard" is its lyrics. Haggard combined elements of narrative storytelling with a poignant emotional depth, a characteristic that often defines his music.
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Album SuccessThe album "Big City", on which "Leonard" is featured, became one of Haggard's most successful records. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
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LegacyDespite its success at the time of its release, "Leonard" has continued to be celebrated in the years since, solidifying its place as an integral part of Haggard's vast musical legacy.
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Citation
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"Leonard Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32033103/Merle+Haggard/Leonard>.
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