The Way It Was In '51 Lyrics - Merle Haggard

Sixty-six was still a narrow two-lane highway 

Harry Truman was the man who ran the show 

The bad Korean war was just beginning 

And I was just three years too young to go 

Country Music hadn't gone to New York City yet 

And a service man was proud of what he'd done 

Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox 

That's the way it was in fifty one. 

There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell 

And there's folks around I know still remember well 

Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played 

'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come 

It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant car hop 

That's the way it was in fifty one. 

There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell 

And there's folks around I know still remember well 

Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played 

'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come 

It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant car hop 

That's the way it was in fifty one. 

Yeah! Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox 

Oh Lord, That's the way it was in fifty one.