By Robyn Collins
Merle Haggard’s final song, “Kern River Blues” will be available today on Haggard’s official website and iTunes. The song was recorded on February 9 at Haggard’s Hag Studios.
Related:10 Merle Haggard Covers That Show His Influence
Written by Haggard and featuring his son Ben on electric guitar, “Kern River Blues” is about the country icon’s memories of leaving Bakersfield in the late ‘70s, reads a message on his official Website. Haggard was battle pneumonia when he recorded the song. Haggard died from the condition April 6 at the age of 79.
The lyrics to “Kern River Blues” seem eerily prescient: “Well, I’m leaving town forever/Kiss an old boxcar goodbye/Well, I’m leaving town forever/Kiss an old boxcar goodbye/I dug my blues down in the river/But the old Kern River is dry,” he sings in its final verse.
The Haggard family decided to release ‘Kern River Blues’ as a way of “thanking everyone” for their “tremendous outpouring of love and prayers” for the artist. They’ve will donate 10% of all gross proceeds from its sale to homeless charities.
Preview the track below.
