About The Song
After the shattering loss of the iconic Merle Haggard, it is always cheering to look back at the recent track recorded with his pal, Willie Nelson. Their 2015 album Django & Jimmie is driven by cheerful mariachi sounds and exchanges that are even merrier between the two old friends, as they thrust fun at their own charm and traditions. Within the album is “It’s All Going to Pot”, a song Merle released before his death on April 6, 2016.
It was April 20, 2015, when Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard released the single and video for “It’s All Going to Pot,” a single from their duet album, Django & Jimmie. This marks the sixth and final album collaboration between Nelson and Haggard. They named it Django and Jimmie with the intent of paying tribute to the biggest icons in their life. Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers were very influential in both their careers. Growing up, Nelson and Haggard listened to both Jimmie and Django. Buddy Cannon, Larry Shell, and Jamey Johnson penned the song. That same day, they released a video of the song, showing Haggard and Nelson recording in a studio. In addition, a behind-the-scenes video of the recording was released, featuring both singers and Cannon discoursing the lyrics of the song. The critics of the album received it well. It topped Billboard’s Country Albums and reached number seven on the Billboard 200 upon its release.
April 20 (4/20) is known as Weed Day in cannabis-loving groups because it resembles the numerical code for marijuana. It is a language and boldness anthem for stoners who are as let down with the world around them as they are with a full bank account. Moreover, if you ask Nelson and Haggard, it is better to smoke your green than spend it, anyway. As they sing,
t’s all going to pot
Whether we like it or not
As far as I can tell
The world’s gone to hell
And we’re sure gonna miss it a lot.
Video
Lyrics
Well, now it’s all going to pot
Whether we like it or not
The best I can tell
The world’s gone to hell
And we’re sure gonna miss it a lot
All of the whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee
Just couldn’t hit the spot
I got a hundred dollar bill, friend
You keep your pills
‘Cause it’s all going to pot
That cackle-babble-head-in-a-box
Must think I’m dumb as a rock
Readin’ me the news
While I’m kickin’ off my shoes
And it’s scarin’ me outta my socks
That Red Headed Stranger I’m not
But buddy, let me tell you what
If you ask ol’ Will, he’ll say here’s the deal
Friends, it’s all goin’ to pot
Well, it’s all going to pot
Whether we like it or not
Best I can tell
The world’s gone to hell
And we’re all gonna miss it a lot
All the whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee
Just couldn’t hit the spot
I got a hundred dollar bill
You can keep your pills, friend
It’s all goin’ to pot
Well, I thought I had found me a girl
Sweetest little thing in the world
But all my jokes went up in smoke
When I caught her makin’ eyes at Merle
He said, a sweet little honey
With her eye on your money
Is gonna take every penny you got
I said she’s never gonna get it
‘Cause I’ve already spent it
Merle, it’s all goin’ to pot
It’s all going to pot
Whether we like it or not
The best I can tell
The world’s gone to hell
And we’re all gonna miss it a lot
All the whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee
Just couldn’t hit the spot
Got a hundred dollar bill
You can keep your pills, friend
It’s all going to pot
I got a hundred dollar bill
You can keep your pills, friend
‘Cause it’s all goin’ to pot
OldiesSong