Unraveling the Tale Behind Merle Haggard‘s Chart-Topping Hit: “Let’s Chase Each Other Around The Room”
In the early 1980s, Merle Haggard found himself wrestling with a songwriter’s block, a creative slump that felt unshakable. However, two serendipitous events breathed new life into his songwriting journey. The first came as an inadvertent challenge from his then-wife, Leona Williams. The second was rekindling a long-lost friendship with Freddy Powers.
Haggard and Powers had initially crossed paths back in 1961. At that time, Merle was strumming his guitar in Las Vegas at the Nashville Nevada Club, accompanying Wynn Stewart. Meanwhile, Powers was captivating audiences down the street at the Showboat while opening for comedian Spike Jones. It was well before Haggard had risen to prominence as a recording artist, and their paths diverged, leading to years of lost contact.
Yet, fate intervened in 1980 when a mutual friend of Powers, none other than Willie Nelson, brought the two old buddies back together. During a visit to Willie’s house, Merle happened to be present, and the past came rushing back. The memories of their Las Vegas days kindled their friendship once more. This reunion sparked a creative spark, igniting a partnership in songwriting. Their first collaboration, “I Always Get Lucky With You,” saw the light of day on Merle’s “Big City” album in 1981, later becoming a chart-topping hit when George Jones recorded it two years later.
The duo’s second composition, “Let’s Chase Each Other Around The Room,” emerged in 1984, marking Haggard’s first single written by Powers. The inspiration for this playful love song came during a bus journey from Canada to the CMA show in Nashville. Freddy Powers was traveling with Haggard, and Sherill Rodgers, his girlfriend who was also a member of the band, was onboard. Rodgers casually remarked, “When we get to Nashville, I’m gonna chase you around the room.” Haggard had a knack for seizing on such whimsical comments and turning them into melodies, and this time was no different. He and Freddy began weaving the tune, and Sherill was credited with a one-third share for her spontaneous remark.
The song found its way onto the “It’s All In The Game” album, an entire project recorded at Nashville’s Eleven-Eleven Sound Studio. The session featured a blend of Merle’s faithful touring band, The Strangers, and the contributions of Powers on rhythm guitar, Bobby Wood on keyboards, and Mike Leech on bass. Both the album and the single soared to the number one spot on their respective Billboard charts a mere ten weeks after their debut. On September 22, 1984, the single “Let’s Chase Each Other Around The Room” triumphantly claimed the top spot, cementing its place in the annals of country music history.
Artist: Merle Haggard
Released: 1984
Album: It’s All in the Game
Lyrics
Let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
Let’s play the games we played on our wedding night
To lock and bolt the door is only right
Let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
Seems like lately people love to play with fire
And the other games they play are just as bad
I’d rather stay at home and feel your burning lips
And play the kind of games that make me glad
Oh, let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
Let’s play the games we played on our wedding night
To lock and bolt the door is only right
Let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
Let’s don’t chase around and make each other weary
Let’s keep all our love at home and out of sight
Let’s leave everything like jealousy behind us
And let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
Oh, let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
Let’s play the games we played on our wedding night
And to lock and bolt the door is only right
Honey, let’s chase each other ’round the room tonight
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