Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis.

The stories about Merle Haggard are insane.

He turned 21 in prison, not just any prison, but one of the most hardcore prisons in the country, San Quentin.

And though he wasn't doing life without parole, like the song says, he did serve an indefinite sentence of six months to 15 years.

He was what authorities called a repeat offender.

He was arrested for riding trains, for skipping school, for stealing cars, for robbing a gas station,

for attempting to knock over a restaurant on Christmas Eve.

He was committed to juvenile halls, correctional facilities, and reform schools 17 times,

and every time he escaped.

This all happened before Merle Haggard ever made great music.

Music that many would consider the platonic ideal of country music,

music that went all the way to number one on the country charts 38 times.

Unlike that clip I played for you at the top of the

show, that wasn't great music. That was a preset loop from my Melotron called Unpainted Maricopa,

MK1. I played you that loop because I can't afford the rights to April Love by Pat Boone.

And why would I play you that specific slice of white buck, clean-cut cheese, could I afford it?

Because that was the number one song in America on December 25, 1957.

And that was the day that Merle Haggard was arrested for the last time and sent away to do the hardest time of his life.

On this episode, riding trains, skipping school, stealing cars, doing hard time, and country music's repeat offender, Merle Haggard.

I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgraceland. He stood at the railroad tracks and waited for the next train.

He listened for the lonesome whistle,

the rumble of an engine, the high-pitched squeal of steel on steel. He knew those sounds by heart.

...