D


[Verse 1]
D
Got the news this morning
D
Knew it'd be a tough day
G
Some are so much larger than life
D
You can't believe they could pass away


[Pre-Chorus 1]
A                        Bm                   G
When it comes to country music he's the world
       A                  Bm               G
And it wouldn't be all it is without Merle


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


[Verse 2]
D
We were friends right from the start
D
We shared some high times
G
I would sing some songs he wrote
D
He would sing a few of mine


[Pre-Chorus 2]
A                 Bm                G
The music made us brothers till the end
A                  Bm                   G
And not a day goes by that I don't miss him


[Chorus 2]
D
He won't ever be gone
    A
His songs live on
Em
Ramblin' fever and the way I am
G
Blue collar blues for the working man
Em                                      A
We'll be singing him back home from now on
                 D
He won't ever be gone


[Solo]
Bm | A | G | G |
Bm | A | G | G |


[Chorus 3]
                 D
He won't ever be gone
    A            
His songs live on
Em
A fugitive and a branded man
G
Mama tried to understand
Em                    A
Left us a lifetime of songs
                     D
And he won't ever be gone
Em                                      A
We'll be singing him back home from now on
                 D
He won't ever be gone