Tulare Dust
Merle Haggard · Hag-The Studio Recordings 1969-1976 [2007]
Tulare dust in a farm boy's nose
Wondering where the freight train goes
Standin' in the field by the railroad track
Cursin' this strap on my cotton sack.
I can see mom and dad with shoulders low
Both of 'em pickin' on a double row
They do it for a livin' because they must
That's life like it is in the Tulare dust.
The California sun was something new
That when we arrived in '42
And I can still remember how my daddy cussed
The tumbleweeds here in the Tulare dust.
--- Instrumental ---
The wally fever was a comin' fate
To the farmworkers here in the Golden State
And I miss Oklahoma but I'll stay
If I must and help make a livin' in the Tulare dust.
The Tulare dust in a farm boy's nose
Wondering where the freight train goes
Standin' in the field by the railroad track
Cursin' this strap on my cotton sack...
Tulare Dust
Tulare Dust stands as a poignant song in Merle Haggard's extensive discography, capturing the raw essence of his working-class narratives. Recorded during a prolific period of his career, the track reflects Haggard's signature ability to transform personal hardship into universal country music anthems. The song draws heavily from the artist's deep connection to the San Joaquin Valley, where the dust of Tulare County became a metaphor for the struggles of rural life. Haggard's delivery on this recording is characterized by his distinctive baritone and the tight, polished production typical of his mid-careera studio work. As part of a broader collection of recordings from the late 1960s and 1970s, it reinforces his status as a defining voice in American country music, offering listeners a glimpse into the enduring themes of displacement and resilience that permeate his body of work.