George Jones and Merle Haggard – Yesterday’s Wine

“Yesterday’s Wine” was released as a single by RCA in the fall of 1971. Its parent album, which opened with a peculiar existential dialogue featuring Nelson and contained songs with philosophical and spiritual themes, confounded the label, with the singer later lamenting, “I think it’s one of my best albums but Yesterday’s Wine was regarded by RCA as way too spooky and far out to waste promotion money on.” Although it was perhaps the LP’s most accessible track, and has since become regarded as one of Nelson’s finest compositions, “Yesterday’s Wine” limped to #62 on the Billboard country survey. RCA appeared to realize its folly five years later Jerry Bradley included it on the Wanted! The Outlaws compilation after Nelson’s popularity had exploded. The song, a tale of two old friends meeting up unexpectedly in a bar after many years, was a perfect fit for the outlaw-themed record.

In 1982, Merle Haggard and George Jones recorded a duet of “Yesterday’s Wine” which became a #1 single, remaining so for one week and spending a total of ten weeks on the chart. The song inspired the title of their first duet LP, A Taste of Yesterday’s Wine, and was a natural fit for the two singers who, who were often singled out as two of the finest interpreters of pure country music and had both battled many personal demons over the course of their respective careers.

From the album A Taste of Yesterday’s Wine
B-side “I Haven’t Found Her Yet”
Released August 7, 1982
Recorded May 17, 1982
Genre Country
Length 3:15
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Willie Nelson
Producer(s) Billy Sherrill

George Jones and Merle Haggard – Yesterday’s Wine Lyrics

Miracles appear in the strangest of places
Fancy me finding you here
The last time I saw you was just out of Houston
Let me sit down and buy you a beer
Your presence is welcome with me and my friend here
‘Cause this is a hangout of mine
We come here quite often to listen to music
And to taste yesterday’s wine

Yesterday’s wine, yesterday’s wine
Agin’ with time like yesterday’s wine
Yesterday’s wine, yesterday’s wine
We’re agin’ with time like yesterday’s wine

You give the appearance of one widely traveled
But lord, I’ll bet you’ve seen things in your time
Come sit down here with us and tell us your story
If it’s true you like yesterday’s wine

Yesterday’s wine, yesterday’s wine
We’re agin’ with time like yesterday’s wine
Yesterday’s wine, yesterday’s wine
We’re agin’ with time like yesterday’s wine