After Merle Haggard wrote one of his greatest songs, he originally planned to give it to another artist. As Haggard wrote and first sang “Today I Started Loving You Again,” he thought it sounded like it should be a song by Marty Robbins.
Haggard then planned to give the song to Marty Robbins. But, unfortunately for Robbins, the timing did not work out right.
Haggard and Robbins
As Haggard explains in the video below, after he wrote “Today I Started Loving You Again,” he ended up going into the studio to record an album before he talked to Robbins. So, he went ahead and recorded the song himself. And the classic song is remembered in Haggard’s voice.
Perhaps had there been cell phones back then, Haggard would have texted Robbins right after he wrote “Today I Started Loving You Again.” And history would have been a little different.
You can get a sample of how the song sounds in the voices of both of the great singers below.
Haggard’s Song
Haggard wrote “Today I Started Loving You Again” in 1967. At the time, he was still married to Bonnie Owens, who often wrote down the songs as Haggard created them.
Although the two would divorce in 1978 and later find other partners in love, they remained close to each other through the rest of their lives. Owens continued to sing backup in Haggard’s band until 2006. And “Today I Stopped Loving You” remained with a special meaning for the two.
Haggard released “Today I Started Loving You Again” as a B-side in 1968, and today is a classic, even though the original release did not hit the charts. The song began reaching a wider audience when Sammi Smith covered the song in 1975, and it has since been covered by a number of artists.
As for Marty Robbins, Haggard and Robbins had a mutual respect and friendship. Robbins later did record a version of Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December.”
Beyond the song connections, their personal connection is even more apparent in this video of Haggard doing a spot-on impersonation of Robbins.
If that is not enough of a connection between the two to illustrate their friendship, Haggard named his son Marty after Robbins, who passed away December 8, 1982. Merle Haggard passed away on April 6, 2016.
What Merle Haggard song do you wish Marty Robbins would have recorded? Leave your two cents in the comments.
