It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues..."

- Chief Ten Bears, The Outlaw Josey Wales

Like the ancient Roman Empire, this world is doomed to fall
And it's much too big a thing for mortal man,
Just take a look around and see the writing on the wall
Somehow we've got to find a helping hand

This world has never been in the awful shape it's in
And people scorn the things our leaders do,
It's time a prayer was spoken from the heart of every man
Jesus, take a hold and lead us through

The mighty roar of gunfire is now a local sound
And our city streets are filled with angry men,
Law is now a mockery throughout our troubled land
And destruction seems to be the current trend

This world has never been in the awful shape it's in
And our leaders seem in doubt as what to do,
It's time a prayer was spoken from the heart of every man
Jesus, take a hold and lead us through..."

- Merle Haggard, Jesus, Take a Hold (1971)

In other words, this country has been in a downward spiral for a long, long time. My entire life, in fact. :(

P.S. I have always found it interesting that Merle used the word "world" in the first line, as opposed to using "country." The man is not sloppy with his lyrics, so we know that it was intentional. It's indicative of how wide the scope of the problems were that he perceived. 39 years later I am still amazed at the depth of his perception. Hag rules.

In my time of dying
Want nobody to moan,
All I want for you to do
Is take my body home..."

- Unknown composer prior to 1927, In My Time of Dying

I love women. But sometimes you’ll see one of these groupies backstage, and she’s really pretty and she’s got everything going for her and you know she’s never been told no in her whole g**damn life. When I was younger, I’d get a kick out of turning them down."

- Merle Haggard

You can read the entire interview here. It's a good one.

All my life I've been workin' them angels overtime,
Riding and driving and living so close to the edge,
Workin' them angels - Overtime"

- Neil Peart (Rush), Workin' Them Angels

Day is done, and here am I
Alone, and you know why,
Roll along, roll along, Kentucky moon

Shed a ray of silvery light
On one I love tonight,
Roll along, roll along, Kentucky moon..."

- Jimmie Rodgers, Roll Along, Kentucky Moon (1932)

This is a GREAT song. {;-)

I may drown in still water,
But I'll never swim Kern river again"

- Merle Haggard, Kern River

It is nearly impossible to underestimate the collective intelligence of modern society."

- Me

They seem oblivious
To a soft spring rain,
Like an English rain
So light, yet endless
From a leaden sky..."

- Rush, The Camera Eye

'Deserves' got nothin' to do with it."

- William Munny (Clint Eastwood), Unforgiven

When I'm in the parlor, the girls think it's a treat
Yeah, when I'm in the parlor, the girls think it's a treat,
'Cause even in the wintertime, they turn off the heat"

- Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel (Women Make a Fool Out of Me), 1933

"I'm going off of the deep end,
And I'm slowly losing my mind..."

- Merle Haggard, I Can't Hold Myself in Line

Told ya so...

"Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever."

- Thomas Jefferson

"The longer I hold on, & let you drag me around
The harder I fall, when I finally fall down"

- Dolorean, Holding On

Good band, GREAT song.

"She laughed at my boots and my slow Texas drawl
I'll bend a lot, but be damned if I'll crawl,
I cannot be what she wants me to be
Sweet Mother Texas, rock-a-bye me"

- Waylon Jennings, Sweet Mother Texas