The Way It Was In '51

(Merle Haggard)



Sixty-Six was still a narrow two-lane highway

Harry Truman was the man who ran the show

The bad Korean war was just begining

And I was just three years too young to go.



Country Music hadn't gone to New York City yet

And a service man was proud of what he'd done

Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox

That's the way it was in fifty-one.



There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell

And there's folks around I know still remember well

Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played

'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come

It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant carhop

That's the way it was in fifty-one.



--- Instrumental ---



There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell

And there's folks around I know still remember well

Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played

'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come

It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant carhop

That's the way it was in fifty-one.



Yeah! Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox

Oh Lord That's the way it was in fifty-one...