Song of the Day 7/30: Merle Haggard, “Life in Prison”

Just something for Donald Trump to think about as he stews in his fetid juices over the wrongs he’s done.

“Life in Prison” appeared on Merle Haggard’s third album, 1967’s “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive.” The title track was the first of his 38 No. 1 country hits. Haggard’s stretch at San Quentin was far from a life sentence, but an inmate he once planned to escape with was successful, only to kill a cop and get a death sentence.

The song is better known to rock fans through the cover by the Byrds on their “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” from 1968. It was one of the country songs Gram Parsons convinced the band to record, but contractual problems led the band to replace his lead vocals with Roger McGuinn’s.