The Merle Haggard Hungry Eyes song was released in December 1968 as the first single from the album “A Portrait of Merle Haggard”. The song became one of the most famous of his career and reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart starting May 10, 1969.
“Hungry Eyes” is a tribute to Oklahomans and others who lived in labor camps during the Great Depression, the time period in which this song is set. “(I)t is Haggard’s way of commemorating a whole generation of Okies who persisted through persecution and suffering to transplant their culture to California,” Malone wrote.
Watch the Merle Haggard Hungry Eyes live performance video, see the audio video and check out the written lyrics below. The live video performance features Merle Haggard and the Strangers & Bonnie Owens… “From Nashville with Music” 1969.
Merle Haggard Hungry Eyes Live Performance Video
Merle Haggard Hungry Eyes Audio Video
“Hungry Eyes” is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers.
Merle Haggard Hungry Eyes Lyrics
A canvas-covered cabin in a crowded labour camp
Stand out in this memory I revived
‘Cause my daddy raised a family there, with two hard-working hands
And tried to feed my mama’s hungry eyes
He dreamed of something better, and my mama’s faith was strong
And us kids were just to young to realize
That another class of people put us somewhere just below
One more reason for my mama’s hungry eyes
Mama never had the luxuries she wanted
But it wasn’t ’cause my daddy didn’t try
She only wanted things she really needed
One more reason for my mama’s hungry eyes
I remember daddy praying for a better way of life
But I don’t recall a change of any size
Just a little loss of courage, as their age began to show
And more sadness in my mama’s hungry eyes
Mama never had the luxuries she wanted
But it wasn’t ’cause my daddy didn’t try
She only wanted things she really needed
One more reason for my mama’s hungry eyes
Oh, I still recall my mama’s hungry eyes
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