Watchin' Scotty Grow
Merle Haggard · Honky Tonkin'-The Strangers [1971]
Dennis Hromek
There he sits with a pen and a yellow pad
What a handsome lad that's my boy
BRLFQ spells mom and dad
But that ain't too bad that's my boy.
You can have your TV and your nightclubs
And you can have your drive in picture show
I'll stay here with my little man near we'll listen to the radio
Bidin' my time and watching Scotty grow.
Making a castle out of building blocks
And a cardboard box that's my boy
Mickey Mouse says it's thirteen o'clock
Well that's quite a shock that's my boy.
In four short years I've gone from rags to riches
What I did before that I don't know
But let it rain on my window pane I got my own rainbow
And we're sittin' here shining watching Scotty grow.
Ridin' on daddy's shoudlers off to bed
Old sleepy head that's my boy
Got to have a drink of water and a story read
A teddy bear named Fred that's my boy.
What's that you say momma come on and keep you feet warm
Save me a place I'll be there in a minute or so
I'll think I'll stay right here and say a little prayer before I go
Me and God watching Scotty grow me and God watching Scotty grow...
Watchin' Scotty Grow
Merle Haggard's 'Watchin' Scotty Grow' is a poignant country ballad that explores the quiet anxieties of a father watching his son grow up. Recorded on the 1971 album 'Honky Tonkin'-The Strangers', the track exemplifies Haggard's signature storytelling ability, blending the honky-tonk energy of his era with deeply personal themes of parental love and the passage of time. The song captures the bittersweet nature of watching a child mature, a sentiment that resonates across generations of country music listeners. As part of Haggard's extensive discography, this recording stands as a testament to his skill in crafting narratives that feel both intimate and universally relatable, solidifying his status as a master of the American songbook.