Unveiling the Love Story Behind Merle Haggard’s Timeless Anthem: “Always Wanting You”
Love stories in country music are nothing out of the ordinary, but the tale behind Merle Haggard‘s heartfelt ballad, “Always Wanting You,” carries a unique twist. In this particular song, Haggard poured out his real-life affection for another prominent artist he had become infatuated with during their time touring together—none other than the incomparable Dolly Parton. Although Haggard didn’t explicitly mention Parton by name in the lyrics, it became common knowledge that she was the inspiration behind the song, and Merle didn’t shy away from publicly expressing his feelings for her.
Throughout 1974 and 1975, Haggard and Parton embarked on extensive tours together, spending substantial amounts of time in each other’s company. Whether riding on the same tour bus or engaging in deep conversations about music and personal aspirations, their bond grew stronger. However, Haggard’s desires extended beyond friendship, as he yearned for a more intimate relationship. Unfortunately for Merle, Dolly firmly rejected his advances, citing the impossibility of such a connection due to their existing marriages. Although Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, never accompanied her on tour, she remained devoted to him and emphasized her commitment to their marriage. Despite this rejection, Haggard’s infatuation persisted.
The infatuation reached a point where Dolly Parton consumed Haggard’s thoughts. Whether on stage performing, going to sleep at night, or waking up in the morning, she occupied his mind relentlessly. He desperately tried various methods to shake off these feelings, but nothing proved effective. As a talented songwriter, Haggard found inspiration in the smallest of triggers, and this intense infatuation with Dolly demanded a song to be born. He took great pride in crafting “Always Wanting You” explicitly dedicated to the object of his affection. In a bold move, Haggard even called Parton at three o’clock in the morning from Reno, Nevada, serenading her with the song over the phone, hoping to impress her enough to reconsider. Once again, Dolly kindly expressed her unavailability and eventually, after hearing the song and Merle’s heartfelt plea, she allowed herself to return to sleep.
This episode became public knowledge after Merle Haggard included it in his autobiography, “Sing Me Back Home: My Own Story.” Neither Haggard nor Parton felt embarrassed about the situation. Dolly handled it with her usual grace, expressing her flattery at being the subject of such intense feelings. By maintaining her integrity and resisting any temptation (if it ever arose), and with Haggard refraining from claiming an affair had taken place, they managed to navigate the situation without scandal. Dolly summed it up beautifully, describing Merle as a dear friend and applauding his boldness and sweetness in expressing his deep care for her.
Although “Always Wanting You” was crafted with Dolly in mind, it became Merle Haggard’s first and only number one single to feature Louise Mandrell. Mandrell joined Haggard’s band for a six-month tour, and when the time came to record the song at Jack Clement’s studio in Nashville, she lent her vocals as a supporting artist alongside Ronnie Reno.
On April 12, 1975, “Always Wanting You” ascended to the pinnacle of Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, securing the top spot for an impressive two weeks. This marked Haggard’s sixth consecutive number one single and his 20th chart-topping hit—a testament to his immense talent and enduring popularity in the country music world.
Artist: Merle Haggard
Released: 1975
Album: Keep Movin’ On
Genre: Country
Lyrics
Always wanting you
But never having you
Makes it hard to face tomorrow
‘Cause I know I’ll wake up wanting you again
Always loving you
But never touching you
Sometimes hurts me
Almost more than I can stand
I’d been better off if I’d turned away
And never looked at you a second time
‘Cause I really had my life all together
Till your eyes met mine
And there I saw a yearning and a feeling ‘cross the room that you felt for me
Wish I’d had a way of knowing
The things we had in mind
Could never be
Always wanting you
But never having you
Makes it hard to face tomorrow
‘Cause I know I’ll wake up wanting you again
Always loving you
But never touching you
Sometimes hurts me
Almost more than I can stand
Always wanting you
But never having you
Sometimes hurts me
Almost more than I can stand
