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The Grateful Dead (and friends) Play Merle Haggard

The Grateful Dead played four Merle Haggard songs during their existence though two of these songs were only performed once each. Some of these songs, and others written by Haggard, were performed by various Jerry Garcia bands, Ratdog, The Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends, New Riders Of The Purple Sage and other groups related to the Grateful Dead.

This page documents the Merle Haggard songs played by the Grateful Dead and related bands.

The Bottle Let Me Down / Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down

The Bottle Let Me Down was was played by Jerry Garcia with Elvis Costello and Friends during the Elvis Costello show on April 24, 1989 at the Sweetwater, Mill Valley. The song has also been performed by the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

The song was originally released on the Merle Haggard LP Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down and on a single in 1966.

See more information about the song


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I'm Bringing Home Good News

I'm Bringing Home Good News was performed by the New Riders Of The Purple Sage.

The song was originally released on the Merle Haggard LP Pride In What I Am in 1968.

See more information about the song


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Mama Tried

Mama Tried was performed over 300 times by the Grateful Dead between 1969 and 1995. It has also been performed by The Dead, Ratdog and Phil Lesh & Friends.

Grateful Dead recordings

info Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses), 1971
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 6, 1996
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 10, 1998
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 16, 2000
info View From The Vault, 2000
info View From The Vault (DVD), 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 20, 2001
info The Golden Road (1965-1973), 2001
info View From The Vault III, 2002
info View From The Vault III (DVD), 2002
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 33, 2004
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 34, 2005
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 35, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Series Vol. 1: 4/30/77, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Series Vol. 4: 6/18/76, 2005
info Live at the Cow Palace: New Year's Eve 1976, 2006
info Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 1: Oakland Dec 28, 1979, 2009
info Road Trips: Vol 4, No. 4: Spectrum 4.6.82, 2011

Mama Tried was originally released by Merle Haggard on the Mama Tried LP and on a single in 1968.

See more information about the song including The Dead, Furthur and Ratdog concert recordings.


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Okie From Muskogee

Okie From Muskogeewas performed once by the Grateful Dead, with members of the Beach Boys, in April 1971.

The song was originally released by Merle Haggard on a single and on the Okie From Muskogee live album in 1969.

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Sing Me Back Home

Sing Me Back Home was performed around 40 times by the Grateful Dead between 1971 and 1973.

Grateful Dead recordings

info So Many Roads (1965-1995), 1999
info Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead, 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 23, 2001
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 35, 2005
info Road Trips: Vol 1, Number 3: Summer 1971 Bonus CD, 2008
info Europe '72, The Complete Recordings, 2011
info Europe '72, Vol. 2, 2011
info Europe '72: Paris, 5/3/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Paris, 5/4/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Bickershaw Festival, 5/7/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Amsterdam, 5/10/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Luxembourg, 5/16/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Munich, 5/18/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/24/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/26/1972, 2011

The song was originally released by Merle Haggard on a single and on the Sing Me Back Home album in 1969.

See more information about the song


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Swinging Doors

Swinging Doors was performed by a group that included Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Leon Russell, Mary Egan and Doug Sahm on November 23, 1972 at the Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, TX. Also performed by Phil Lesh & Friends, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage and Kingfish, with Bob Weir.

The song was originally released on the Merle Haggard LP Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down and on a single in 1966.

See more information about the song


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Today I Started Loving You Again

Today I Started Loving You Again was performed by a group that included Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Leon Russell, Mary Egan and Doug Sahm on November 23, 1972 at the Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, TX.

The song was originally released on a Merle Haggard single and on the Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde album in 1968.

See more information about the song


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Workin' Man Blues

Workin' Man Blues Again was played once by the Grateful Dead at a soundcheck in 1973. The song has been performed by the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

The song was originally released by Merle Haggard on a single and on the Okie From Muskogee live album in 1969.

See more information about the song


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Last updated July 2012