"The Way It Was In '51" Lyrics

(Merle Haggard)

Sixty-Six was still a narrow two-lane highway
Harry Truman was the man who ran the show
The bad Korean war was just begining
And I was just three years too young to go.

Country Music hadn't gone to New York City yet
And a service man was proud of what he'd done
Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox
That's the way it was in fifty-one.

There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell
And there's folks around I know still remember well
Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played
'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come
It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant carhop
That's the way it was in fifty-one.

--- Instrumental ---

There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell
And there's folks around I know still remember well
Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played
'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come
It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant carhop
That's the way it was in fifty-one.

Yeah! Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox
Oh Lord That's the way it was in fifty-one...