Unraveling the Enigmatic Journey: Merle Haggard’s “Carolyn” and the Bakersfield Sound
Step into the vibrant musical landscape of Bakersfield, California, often hailed as “Nashville West” due to its rich history of producing exceptional country musicians. This illustrious city’s club circuit nurtured countless talents, including Ferlin Husky, Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, and the legendary stars themselves, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
Music critics and enthusiasts have often grouped these artists under the label of “The Bakersfield Sound.” This distinct genre was characterized by its energetic, driving rhythms, heavily reliant on electric guitars, bass, and drums. It stood in stark contrast to the smoother, pop-oriented “Nashville Sound” that dominated the airwaves during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Tommy Collins, whose career intersected with both Owens and Haggard in Bakersfield, played a significant role in shaping the local music scene. Born as Leonard Raymond Sipes in Oklahoma City in 1930, Collins relocated to California in 1952. He enlisted Buck Owens as his guitarist and embarked on his own recording journey a year later, scoring four Top Ten hits within the following two years. As a talented songwriter, Tommy achieved a major breakthrough in 1955 when Faron Young’s rendition of his composition “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)” reached the impressive #2 spot on the charts. In 1988, George Strait revived the song, taking it all the way to the coveted #1 position.
Collins temporarily stepped away from music and ventured into the ministry between 1961 and 1964. It was during this period that he forged a deep friendship with Merle Haggard. Tommy had been captivated by Haggard’s very first charting record, “Sing A Sad Song” by Wynn Stewart, which climbed to a respectable #19 position. Intrigued, Collins sought out Haggard, and their bond grew stronger during their memorable fishing excursions on the Kern River. In fact, Haggard even recorded one of Collins’s compositions, “Sam Hill,” in 1964, although it didn’t achieve significant commercial success, peaking at #45 on the charts.
Eight years later, Merle Haggard seized another opportunity to collaborate with Collins, taking his composition “Carolyn” to the pinnacle of success, claiming the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart on January 15, 1972. Through the lyrics of “Carolyn,” the narrator embarks on a desperate journey to a brothel, painting a poignant picture of a married man’s anguish. Collins asserted that the song served as an indirect means of communication, allowing him to convey his thoughts to someone indirectly, entering through the side door rather than the front. Interestingly, the song’s subject happened to be none other than Tommy’s own wife, and he wanted to express his feelings to her as if he were addressing someone else.
“Carolyn” marked Merle Haggard’s eleventh chart-topping hit out of an astonishing 38 throughout his career, solidifying his status as one of the most successful artists in country music history. Furthermore, this poignant composition served as the last of Haggard’s hits to feature the backing vocals of the incomparable Glen Campbell.
As we delve into the remarkable story behind Merle Haggard’s “Carolyn,” we not only witness the artistic synergy between musicians in the Bakersfield Sound but also uncover the profound emotions and intricate narratives that continue to resonate with audiences to this day.
Album: Someday We’ll Look Back
Artist: Merle Haggard
Released: 1971
Nominations: Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year, Academy of Country Music Award for Single of the Year
Lyrics
Carolyn let me tell you what I heard about a man today
He didn’t come home from work and he went away
‘Til he came to a city, bright in the night time like day
There they say he met with some women dressed in yellow and scarlet
Their warm lips like a honeycomb, dripped with honey
And somethin’ about the smell of strange perfume
Made him feel warm, and not alone
Yes Carolyn a man will do that sometimes on his own
And sometimes when he’s lonely
And I believe a man will do that sometimes out of spite
But Carolyn, a man will do that always
When he’s treated bad at home
Yes Carolyn a man will do that sometimes on his own
And sometimes when he’s lonely
And I believe a man will do that sometimes out of spite
But Carolyn, a man will do that always
When he’s treated bad at home
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