WISH A BUCK WAS STILL SILVER
(ARE THE GOOD TIMES REALLY OVER)
Merle Haggard


Wish a buck was still silver.
It was, back when the country was strong.
Back before Elvis; before the Vietnam war came along.
Before The Beatles and "Yesterday",
When a man could still work, and still would.
Is the best of the free life 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 or the Liberty bell.
Wish a Ford and a Chevy,
Could still last ten years, like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good? 

I wish coke was still cola,
And a joint was a bad place to be.
And it was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV.
Before microwave ovens, 
When a girl still cooked and chopped wood.
Is the best of the free life 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 or the Liberty bell.
Wish a Ford and a Chevy,
Could still last ten years, like they should.
Is the best of the free life behind us now?
Are the good times really over for good? 

One more time:

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

Let's sing it again.

Stop rolling down hill like a snowball headed for hell?
Stand up for the Flag and let's all ring the Liberty bell.
Let's make a Ford and a Chevy,
That'll still last ten years, like they should.
'Cos the best of the free life is still yet to come,
An' the good times ain't over for good? 



(Contributed by boB Cartlidge & Karen Pierce - January 2003)