Some songs don’t need to shout to make you feel something—they just ease into your soul like an old friend. That’s the Way Love Goes is one of those songs. Originally written by Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. Shafer, it had been around for decades, even recorded by Johnny Rodriguez in the ’70s. But when Merle Haggard took it on in 1983, he gave it a quiet kind of magic that only he could.
Merle was no stranger to the ups and downs of love and life. His weathered voice carried the weight of experience, and when he sang this song, it wasn’t just a performance—it was a reflection. The lyrics are simple, almost conversational, reminding us that love isn’t always fireworks or grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s just about accepting the way it moves—drifting, shifting, changing—with grace.
The song earned Merle a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, and became one of his late-career triumphs. But more than the awards, what makes it unforgettable is how personal it feels. When you listen, it’s as if Merle is sitting right there, talking to you about love’s unpredictable paths—resigned, but never bitter.
Even today, That’s the Way Love Goes feels timeless, because its message is as true now as it was then: love has its own rhythm, and all we can do is follow where it leads.
Before his passing, Merle Haggard spoke often about the one love that defined his life—Bonnie Owens. She was more than a former wife; she was his true soulmate, the steady light through every high and low. When fame tested him, when mistakes weighed him down, Bonnie remained constant, offering not only love but also the quiet strength that held him together.
“Bonnie was the rock in Merle’s turbulent life,” recalled a close family member. “Without her steady support, many of his songs might never have come to life.”
Her loyalty shaped not just their bond but also his music, becoming the heartbeat of some of his most unforgettable songs. In Haggard’s story of triumphs and trials, Bonnie was the one who never let go—the woman who gave his art its deepest soul and his journey its truest meaning.
Music historian Linda Crawford noted, “Bonnie Owens was Merle’s anchor, not just personally but creatively. Her influence runs deep through his work and legacy.”
This deeply rooted love, full of resilience and quiet understanding, is what makes Merle’s legacy not just a tale of country music fame but a poignant human story of enduring love and heartfelt inspiration.