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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Vocals
Roy Nichols
Roy Nichols
Lead Guitar
Norm Hamlet
Norm Hamlet
Steel Guitar
Biff Adams
Biff Adams
Drums
Mark Yeary
Mark Yeary
Electric Piano
Dennis Hromek
Dennis Hromek
Bass
Don Markham
Don Markham
Horn Section
Slyde Hyde
Slyde Hyde
Trombone
Bobby Wayne
Bobby Wayne
Rhythm Guitar
Merle Haggard & The Strangers
Merle Haggard & The Strangers
Band
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Producer
Lewis A. Talley
Lewis A. Talley
Engineer
Jim Upshaw
Jim Upshaw
Assistant Producer
Ken Suesov
Ken Suesov
Engineer
Russ Bracher
Russ Bracher
Assistant Engineer
Chris Athens
Chris Athens
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I wish a buck was still silver
It was back when the country was strong
Back before Elvis
And before the Vietnam War came along
Before The Beatles and "Yesterday"
When a man could still work, and still would
[Refrain]
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
And are the good times really over for good?
[Chorus]
And are we rolling downhill
Like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for
The flag or the Liberty Bell
I wish a Ford and a Chevy
Would still last ten years, like they should
[Refrain]
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
And are the good times really over for good?
[Verse 2]
I wish coke was still cola
And a joint was a bad place to be
And it was back before Nixon
Lied to us all on TV
Before microwave ovens
When a girl could still cook, and still would
[Refrain]
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
And are the good times really over for good?
[Chorus]
Are we rolling downhill
Like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for
The flag, the Liberty Bell
I wish a Ford and a Chevy
Would still last ten years, like they should
[Refrain]
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
And are the good times really over for good?
[Chorus]
Stop rolling downhill
Like a snowball headed for hell
Stand up for the flag
And let's all ring the Liberty Bell
Let's make a Ford and a Chevy
That'll still last ten years, like they should
[Refrain]
'Cause the best of the free life is still yet to come
And the good times ain't over for good
Written by: Merle Haggard

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