Merle Haggard's Final Song 'Kern River Blues' Released

(Radio.com) Merle Haggard's final song, "Kern River Blues" is now available on Haggard's official website and iTunes. The song was recorded on February 9 at Haggard's Hag Studios.

Written by Haggard and featuring his son Ben on electric guitar, "Kern River Blues" is about the country icon's memories of leaving Bakersfield in the late '70s, reads a message on his official Website. Haggard was battle pneumonia when he recorded the song. Haggard died from the condition April 6 at the age of 79.

The lyrics to "Kern River Blues" seem eerily prescient: 'Well, I'm leaving town forever/Kiss an old boxcar goodbye/Well, I'm leaving town forever/Kiss an old boxcar goodbye/I dug my blues down in the river/But the old Kern River is dry," he sings in its final verse. Read more and preview the song here.