Merle Haggard’s “What Will It Be Like”: A Quiet Conversation with the Soul
There are certain songs that transcend performance, entering the realm of intimate, soulful dialogue. Merle Haggard’s “What Will It Be Like” belongs unmistakably to this rare category. When Haggard’s weathered voice delivers this piece, it carries with it the profound weight of a life lived fully — a tapestry of experiences woven through rough roads, personal trials, and hard-earned wisdom. His tender delivery invites listeners into a space where questions float freely, untouched by bravado or pretense.
This song is not designed to be mere background music. Instead, it compels silence and attentiveness. Unlike many tracks crafted for commercial success or radio airplay, “What Will It Be Like” opens a sacred moment where thoughts about faith, mortality, and the unknown rise naturally in the stillness. Merle’s voice here is stripped bare, vulnerable and almost trembling — an audible confession of a man wrestling with eternal questions. There is no attempt to dazzle; rather, it’s a raw telling of truth as deeply felt and lived. As music critic Susan Bell reflects,
“Merle isn’t just singing; he’s sharing a piece of his soul, something many of us dare not speak aloud.”
The power of this song comes from its universality. At some point in our lives, many of us have lain awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling, quietly asking ourselves, what will it be like? This profound inquiry into the mystery of what lies beyond life is a theme that has echoed through generations of songwriters. Yet Haggard’s interpretation feels singularly personal, less a sermon and more a gentle whisper from a trusted friend who’s also wondering. Dr. Alan Hart, a psychologist specializing in grief and existential exploration, observes,
“Songs like ‘What Will It Be Like’ give people permission to face their uncertainties without fear. It’s a musical embrace for those grappling with life’s deepest questions.”
For those who have followed Merle Haggard’s remarkable career, this track stands out as a late-career gem—a moment where the outlaw’s gruff swagger drops away to reveal the vulnerable man beneath. It’s a rare glimpse into a heart unarmored, where honesty replaces bravado. Haggard’s longtime fan and biographer, Linda Carr, explains,
“This song is Merle at his most authentic. It’s like he’s inviting us behind the curtain, sharing his own doubts and hopes without any illusions.”
Listening to “What Will It Be Like” is not about finding definitive answers to the questions it poses. Rather, it’s about learning to sit with those questions—to let them soften and stretch us, and perhaps, to find some unexpected peace in the act of wondering. Music historian James Wheeler states,
“The beauty of this song is in the silence it creates, the space for listeners to join Merle in contemplating the unknown, not alone, but together.”
In its simplicity and profundity, “What Will It Be Like” remains a hauntingly beautiful meditation. It reminds us of the enduring power of music not only to entertain but to connect us to the most tender and universal parts of our humanity.
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