Got the news this morning
Knew it'd be a tough day
Some are so much larger than life
You can't believe they could pass away
When it comes to country music he's the world
And it wouldn't be all it is without Merle

He won't ever be gone
His songs live on
A fugitive and a branded man
Mama tried to understand
Left us a lifetime of songs
And he won't ever be gone

We were friends right from the start
We shared some high times
I would sing some songs he wrote
He would sing a few of mine
The music made us brothers till the end
And not a day goes by that I don't miss him

He won't ever be gone
His songs live on
Ramblin' fever and the way I am
Blue collar blues for the working man
We'll be singing him back home from now on
He won't ever be gone

He won't ever be gone
His songs live on
A fugitive and a branded man
Mama tried to understand
Left us a lifetime of songs
He won't ever be gone

We'll be singing him back home from now on
He won't ever be gone