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He wore many faces in his life—outlaw, poet, prisoner, legend. But in the quietest parts of his story, Merle Haggard was simply a man in love. With Theresa, his final and truest companion, he found something the road never gave him: stillness. Their love wasn’t loud or showy. It was steady. After years of hard-living and heartbreak, she became his anchor—through hospital stays, long nights on tour, and the quiet mornings after. Merle may be remembered for the grit in his voice and the edge in his lyrics. But in the end, it was the softness he shared with her that told the deeper story. Not just the man who wrote about love and regret… But the one who finally found it—gently, honestly, and for keeps.

“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”

Introduction

There’s a kind of silence that only hits after the final note fades—a silence that isn’t empty, but full of everything you just felt. I first experienced that kind of stillness the night I stumbled upon “My Favorite Memory” on an old vinyl in my grandfather’s living room. He didn’t say much, but as Merle’s voice cracked slightly on the word “darling,” he just closed his eyes—and I understood. Some songs aren’t just sung; they’re lived.

About The Composition

  • Title: My Favorite Memory

  • Composer: Merle Haggard

  • Premiere Date: September 1981 (as a single release)

  • Album: Big City

  • Genre: Country (Honky Tonk Ballad)

Background

Released in 1981, “My Favorite Memory” was the lead single from Merle Haggard’s album Big City. The song quickly soared to number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, becoming Haggard’s 27th chart-topping single. But beyond its commercial success, the track holds a special place in Haggard’s catalog—it’s deeply personal, written solely by Merle himself, with no co-writers or collaborators.

At the time, Haggard was entering a reflective period in his career. Having endured a life of hardship—from incarceration at San Quentin to failed marriages—his songwriting matured into something more introspective. My Favorite Memory is exactly that: a wistful, melancholic look back at love, not with bitterness, but with quiet reverence.

Musical Style

The song is stripped down in the best way possible. A slow, steady waltz rhythm carries Haggard’s rich baritone, supported by warm steel guitar swells and a gentle acoustic backdrop. The melody is simple, understated—letting the lyrics take center stage. There are no vocal acrobatics here, just honest phrasing and subtle cracks in the voice that reveal more emotion than a full orchestra ever could.

This is Merle at his most vulnerable, letting space and silence do just as much of the talking as the chords.

Lyrics

The lyrics are a quiet confession: memories of a former lover that have outlasted everything else. It’s not about dramatic heartbreak or messy endings, but the quiet ache of remembering what once was. Lines like “You’re still my favorite memory of all” remind us that sometimes, the past holds onto us just as much as we hold onto it.

There’s no blame in the song—just gratitude for having loved at all. It’s that emotional complexity that elevates this from a love song to a life song.

Performance History

Since its release, “My Favorite Memory” has been a staple in Haggard’s live shows and a favorite among fans. While not as immediately recognizable as “Mama Tried” or “Okie from Muskogee,” it remains one of his most poignant and tender works. It showcased another side of Merle—not the rowdy outlaw, but the reflective romantic.

Artists like Jamey Johnson and Sturgill Simpson have cited this era of Haggard’s songwriting as a major influence, with “My Favorite Memory” often mentioned as a masterclass in emotional honesty.

Cultural Impact

While the song didn’t spark major media attention outside country circles, its impact is felt in the quiet spaces—wedding playlists, farewell videos, and rainy-night drive soundtracks. It’s one of those songs that doesn’t need a spotlight to be powerful. It lives in the background of people’s most intimate moments, which might just be the highest honor any piece of music can achieve.

Legacy

More than four decades later, “My Favorite Memory” still resonates. It’s a reminder that not every great song has to be loud or revolutionary. Sometimes, all it takes is a soft voice, a steel guitar, and the courage to be vulnerable. For many fans, this song remains one of the purest expressions of Haggard’s emotional range and songwriting brilliance.

Conclusion

Listening to “My Favorite Memory” feels like reading someone’s diary entry left open on a nightstand—not meant for the world, but too beautiful not to share. If you’ve ever loved and lost, or simply missed someone late at night, this song will find its way to you.

Recommended Recording:

  • Merle Haggard – My Favorite Memory (1981) – Original album version from Big City

  • Live Version: Merle’s stripped-back performances in the late 2000s offer a haunting, aging voice that adds new depth to the song’s already powerful message.

Video

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
The first time we met
Is a favorite memory of mine
They say time changes all it pertains to
But your memory is stronger than time

[Verse 2]
I guess everything does change
Except what you choose to recall
There’s a million good daydreams to dream on
But baby, you are my favorite memory of all

[Verse 3]
Like the night we made love in the hallway
Slept all night long on the floor
Like the winter we spent on Lake Shasta
Alone and closer than ever before

[Verse 4]
And I remember that London vacation
It was you who made the whole thing a ball
There’s a million good times I could dwell on
But baby, you are my favorite memory of all

[Verse 5]
The first time we met
Is a favorite memory of mine
They say time changes all it pertains to
But your memory is stronger than time

[Verse 6]
I guess everything does change
Except what you choose to recall
There’s a million good daydreams to dream on
But baby, you are my favorite memory of all

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