This song was written by Homer Joy in November 1972 for the Capitol label, Buck recorded it in 1973 and was included in his album, Is not It Amazing, Gracie (Capitol 1973), both recordings went unnoticed, until Dwight Yoakam recorded with Buck Owens on June 17, 1988, for the reprise records label. In October 1988, the song reached number one on the country charts. It was the first number for Dwight and the twenty-first number one for Buck, (the last of his career).

Homer Joy was a composer from Arkansas, who was contacted by the Buck Owens office in 1972. They wanted me to compose songs in the style of Hank Williams, to record an album, A Homer did not like the idea, he wanted to be the same and not to compose like Hank. He said he would think about it. Finally, he said yes, with the proviso that they let him record some of his songs. They said yes, but every day he came to the studio, and he was always busy, tired of this situation, that same night he went out for a walk in Bakersfield, thinking and walking, the idea came to him to write a song about his experience in Bakersfield. As usual, at 8 in the morning he went to the studio, finally they let him record his songs, Homer picked up a guitar and sang the song he had composed that The same night, the manager of the studio listened to the song, and went to look for Buck, and they told him to sing it again. That same day Homer recorded it and Buck included it in his album, “Is not It Amazing, Gracie” (Capitol 1973). It was a song that did not have much success.

At the beginning of 1980, Buck decided to retire of the spectacle. One day in 1987 Dwight showed up at Buck’s offices, to convince him to return, Dwight got Buck back on stage. They finally recorded the song together, which was included in Dwight’s third album, “Good Night From A Lonely Room “, (Reprise Records 1988).

Some Versions:

Johnny Reno & The Kansas City Showband 1977 (Homespun)
Michal Tučný & Tučňáci 1991 (Supraphon)
Mingo Saldivar and His Tremendos Cuatro Espadas 1995 (Fonovisa, Inc.)
Paul Adkins and The Borderline Band 1996 (Rebel Records)
Rockabilly Riot 2004 (Bad Habits)
Mick Flavin 2007 (Imports)
Josh Williams 2011 (Rounder Records)

Buck Owens – Streets Of Bakersfield Lyrics
I came here looking for something
I couldn’t find anywhere else
Hey, I’m not trying to be nobody
I just want a chance to be myself
I’ve spent a thousand miles a-thumbin’
Yes, I’ve worn blisters on my heels
Trying to find me something better
Here on the streets of Bakersfield

Hey, you don’t know me, but you don’t like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

Spent sometime in San Francisco
I spent a night there in the can
They threw this drunk man in my jail cell
I took fifteen dollars from that man
Left him my watch and my old house key
Don’t want folks thinkin’ that I’d steal
Then I thanked him as I was leaving
And I headed out for Bakersfield

Hey, you don’t know me, but you don’t like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

Hey, you don’t know me, but you don’t like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

How many of you that sit and judge me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?