Introduction:
Merle Haggard, the Bakersfield country legend whose baritone voice and working-class anthems chronicled the struggles and triumphs of everyday life in America, released “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” in 1980. The song came as the second single from his album Back to the Barrooms, a project that marked a return to his signature themes of heartache, hard living, and the solace found at the bottom of a glass.
“I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” wasn’t a chart-topping hit, but it became a beloved entry in Haggard’s vast catalogue. The song, which Haggard himself wrote, perfectly encapsulates the despair and resignation that permeate the thematic core of many a Haggard ballad. Produced by veteran country music hitmaker Fuzzy Owen, “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” doesn’t rely on flashy production or complex instrumentation. Instead, it centers on Haggard’s raw and emotive vocals, backed by a simple arrangement of weeping steel guitar, mournful fiddle, and a steady, downbeat rhythm section.
While not explicitly credited, the song likely references a real-life legal battle Haggard was facing at the time. Pete Dixon, from Arkansas, claimed authorship of the song and sued Haggard for copyright infringement. This lawsuit coincided with a period of heavy touring and personal struggles for Haggard, and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” can be interpreted as a response to these challenges.
The song’s enduring appeal lies in its poignant portrayal of drowning sorrows in alcohol. It’s a theme Haggard revisited throughout his career, and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” stands out for its unvarnished honesty. There’s no attempt to glorify or romanticize the act of drinking. Haggard simply lays bare the emotional pain that compels the narrator to seek refuge in a bottle. “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” is a powerful testament to the human capacity for resilience in the face of hardship, a quality that resonated deeply with Haggard’s working-class audience.