ARE THE GOOD TIMES REALLY OVER?

I was watching late night television the other evening and happened on a show originally filmed in 1983. One of the entertainers performing was Merle Haggard who presented his latest hit by the title listed above. As I listened to the lyrics I was struck by the similarities with today. Simply substituting the name of one war for another and one president for another could bring this song up to 2008.
Evidently there was a strong feeling of bleakness in our country at that time-much like today. His words hint that patriotism was not very strong. In this respect, today’s conditions are different. We are patriotic, but we also have a cautious, even somber mood.
As we open our in-boxes each day and are bombarded with more messages of a dire nature, it might do us well to contemplate Haggard’s lyrics and remember they were written in the early 80’s. Were the good times really over?
Not on your life. We experienced prosperity for over two decades after that time frame. Some of our country’s strongest economic times have happened since then and I am confident there will be more in our future.

Are the Good Times Really Over? – by Merle Haggard (a reasonable facsimile of actual lyrics)

I wish a buck was still silver, back when the country was strong
Before the Viet Nam war came along

When a man could still work and still would
The best of the free life is behind us now
Are the good times really over for good?

Are we rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?
With no kind of chance for the Flag and Liberty bell?
I wish a Ford and a Chevy could still last 10 years like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good?

I wish a Coke was still cola and a joint was a bad place to be
Long before Nixon lied to us all on TV
Before microwave ovens, when a girl could still cook and still would.
Is the best of the free life behind us now, are the good times really over for good?

Stop rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell.
Stand up for the Flag and ring the Liberty bell.
Let’s make a Ford and a Chevy last ten years like they should.
The best of the free life is still to come,
The good times ain’t over for good. end