A heartfelt tribute to Merle Haggard‘s restless soul, through the voices of his sons.
When Noel Haggard and Ben Haggard take the stage together to sing “The Runnin’ Kind / I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” they are doing far more than performing a medley. They are resurrecting a legacy — weaving together two of their father’s most iconic songs in a living, breathing homage that brings both longing and redemption to the forefront.
The piece was notably performed at a Country’s Family Reunion tribute to Merle Haggard. According to Country Thang Daily, during that performance, Noel and Ben first sang “The Runnin’ Kind” and then transitioned into “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive.” Their voices blended in a way that felt like a direct transmission of Merle’s spirit — Noel’s weathered sincerity anchoring the melody, Ben’s smooth timbre echoing the man who raised them.
Understanding what these songs originally meant within Merle’s career helps illuminate the weight of Noel and Ben’s performance. “The Runnin’ Kind” was first released in 1978 on Merle’s album A Working Man Can’t Get Nowhere Today. The single climbed to No. 12 on the U.S. country charts, embodying that signature image of Merle: the wandering soul, unable to settle, always on the road.
On the other hand, “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” went much further back in his career. Written by Liz Anderson and Casey Anderson, it became deeply identified with Merle, especially since his own past included time spent behind bars. When Merle released it as a single in late 1966, it became his first No. 1 hit on the U.S. country singles chart. Later, when the eponymous album I’m a Lonesome Fugitive came out in March 1967, it reached No. 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
When Noel and Ben perform these songs, they deliver more than just a cover — it’s a bloodline tribute. As Country Thang Daily reports, they honored their father’s legacy not by imitating him, but by channeling his spirit. Their performance is deeply respectful, but it’s not reverent in a museum way — it’s alive, raw, and rooted in truth. Noel’s voice carries a rugged authenticity, while Ben’s guitar and harmony evoke the classic Bakersfield sound that defined their father’s work.
In “The Runnin’ Kind,” the lyrics speak of a natural restlessness — “I was born the runnin’ kind / With leavin’ always on my mind.” That sense of movement, of never quite being home, is beautifully embodied in Noel’s delivery, as though he grasps the very heart of that sentiment from living its echo.
Then, they slide into “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” a song steeped in reflection and regret — the highway is not just a road, but a metaphorical prison. Ben, carrying the melody, brings a kind of bittersweet resignation: the fugitive may always run, but he also knows that this life comes with deep loneliness.
Taken together, this medley by Noel and Ben is more than a performance — it is a statement of inheritance. They remind listeners that Merle Haggard’s music was not merely commercial success: it was storytelling rooted in hardship, in moral complexity, and in restlessness.
For an older audience, hearing these songs again through his sons’ voices is deeply moving. It’s like closing your eyes and hearing Merle himself, yet realizing that his heart and his songs now live on in a new generation. The performance carries a gentle nostalgia, but it also feels like a necessary passage — a way of preserving something pure.
In a world that’s always changing, Noel and Ben Haggard offer a reminder that some songs, some voices, are timeless. Their rendition of “The Runnin’ Kind / I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” is not a mere echo of the past — it is the beating of a legacy still very much alive.