I WISH THINGS WERE SIMPLE AGAIN (Merle Haggard / Tommy Collins / Pate Russell) Merle Haggard - 1985 I wish things were simple like they used to be When cowboys rode horses and were heroes to me My mother was a lady and my dad was a man And I wish things were simple again I wish things were simple like when I was a kid A man just got paid for the work that he did And a song could be played for a nickel back then And I wish things were simple again But even the blue skies roar with thunder Men fly above us like birds Nothing is simple, not even a love song When the story gets lost in the words But there's no way to rewind, it's gone with the wind And I wish things were simple again (Instrumental Break) But even the blue skies roar with thunder Men fly above us like birds Nothing is simple, not even a love song When the story gets lost in the words There's no way to rewind, it's gone with the wind And I wish things were simple again Oh, I wish things were simple again (Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2012)