“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
There’s something hauntingly beautiful about watching the sons of a legend carry on their father’s musical torch. When Noel and Ben Haggard perform “Runaway Mama,” they’re not just singing a country tune—they’re breathing new life into the Haggard family legacy that has shaped American music for generations.
Written by their father, the incomparable Merle Haggard, “Runaway Mama” tells the story of a woman who can’t seem to stay put, always chasing after something—or someone—new. The song paints a vivid picture of a restless spirit, a woman tall and slim who’s “somewhere and gone again,” leaving heartache in her wake.
When the brothers perform this song together, as they did at the Red Clay Music Foundry in December 2017, something magical happens. Noel’s deep, weathered vocals carry the weight of experience, while Ben’s masterful guitar work and harmonies add layers of emotion that transform this tale of abandonment into something surprisingly nuanced.
What makes their rendition special isn’t just technical skill—it’s the authentic connection to the material. These aren’t just musicians covering a classic; they’re sons honoring their father’s artistry while adding their own chapter to the family story. You can hear echoes of Merle in their delivery, but also their own distinct musical personalities.
The brothers continue to perform the song at venues across America, including a memorable 2021 performance at Arlington Music Hall in Fort Worth, Texas. Each time they step on stage, they’re not just entertaining an audience—they’re keeping alive the storytelling tradition that made their father a cornerstone of country music.
“Runaway Mama” may not be among Merle Haggard’s most famous compositions, but in the hands of his sons, it becomes something precious—a living link between country music’s storied past and its continuing evolution. It’s a reminder that great songs, like great legacies, never truly fade away.
Video
Lyrics
She’s my run away mama always chasing other men
She’s my run away mama she’s somewhere and gone again.
If you see this kind of lady, kind of tall, kind of slim.
She’s my runaway mama.
Call the law and turn her in she’s got lots of pretty things that a man cannot ignore.
And she’s standing out in a bar room
When she walks out on the floor.
If you se this kind of woman thumbling a ride and showing skin.
She’s my runaway mama.
Call the law and turn her in.
If you see a woman flirting and she’s hurting a bunch of men.
She’s my runaway mama.
Call the law and turn her in.
If you see her somewhere dancing on a table ina a bar.
Go and call the chief of police and try to tell ’em where you are.
She’s my runaway mama, chasing other men.
She’s my runaway mama, she’s somewhere and gone again.
If you see this kind of lady thumbing a ride and showing skin.
She’s my runaway mama.
Call the law and turn her in.
She’s my runaway mama.