Merle Haggard

Are The Good Times Really Over

Merle Haggard


Tom: C

C  C  C C

[Verse 1]                                                   
         C                                                         F  
I wish a buck was still silver, it was back when the country was strong, 
 G7                                             C
Back before Elvis, before the Vietnam war came along, 
            C                                                            F
Before the Beatles and "Yesterday", when a man could still work, still would, 
        F                       G7                        G7                         C           
is the best of the free life behind us now,  and are the good times really over for good? 

[Chorus]
            C                                          F
And are we rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell. 
     G                                              C
With no kind of chance for the flag or the liberty bell. 
          C                                                      F
I wish a Ford or a Chevy, would still last ten years like they should. 
        F                       G7                   G7                        C
Is the best of the free life behind us now, are the good times really over for good?  

[Verse 2]
        C                                                  F 
I wish Coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be. 
        G7                                  C 
It was back before Nixon lied to us all on TV. 
        C                                                        F
Before microwave ovens, when a girl could still cook, and still would, 
         F                      G7
 Is the best of the free life behind us now, 
            G7                         C
and are the good times really over for good? 

[Chorus]
            C                                          F
And are we rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell. 
     G                                              C
With no kind of chance for the flag or the liberty bell. 
          C                                                      F
I wish a Ford or a Chevy, would still last ten years like they should. 
        F                       G7                   G7                        C*
Is the best of the free life behind us now, are the good times really over for good? 

[Final Chorus]
                  C                               F
Stop rollin' downhill like a snowball headed for hell. 
     G                                                C
Stand up for the flag and let's all ring the liberty bell. 
              C                                                        F
Let's make a Ford or a Chevy, that'll still last ten years like they should. 
            F                        G7                      G7                        C*
'Cause the best of the free life is still yet to come, the good times ain't over for good?