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Muskogee Today
By the People, for the People
Merle Haggard Moved to Tears by Ex-Wife's Song About Their Strained Relationship
Leona Williams' pointed lyrics in "You Take Me For Granted" hit home for the country star.
Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:22pm
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In the early 1980s, Merle Haggard and his then-wife Leona Williams were traveling on their tour bus when she debuted the song "You Take Me For Granted", which she had written in response to a fight they had during a recording session. The lyrics, which called out Haggard for taking Williams for granted, brought the country star to tears when he heard them. The song went on to become a No. 1 hit, foreshadowing the eventual end of Haggard and Williams' tumultuous five-year marriage.
Why it matters
The story highlights the power of music to convey emotions and personal truths that can be difficult to express directly. It also provides insight into the challenges faced by high-profile celebrity couples, whose personal lives and relationships are often scrutinized by the public.
The details
After a fight during a recording session where Haggard had pushed Williams to tears, she wrote "You Take Me For Granted" as a musical response. The lyrics, which described her feeling of being taken for granted by Haggard, deeply moved him when she debuted the song on their tour bus. Despite the pain the song caused, Haggard recognized its authenticity and knew it would be a hit, which it went on to become, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- In the early 1980s, Haggard and Williams were married and collaborating on music.
- In 1983, "You Take Me For Granted" was released and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The players
Merle Haggard
A renowned country music singer and songwriter who was married to Leona Williams for five years in the early 1980s.
Leona Williams
A country music singer and songwriter who was married to Merle Haggard for five years in the early 1980s. She wrote the song "You Take Me For Granted" in response to a fight with Haggard.
What they’re saying
“My legs and my feet have walked 'til they can't hardly move from tryin' to please you / and my back is sore from bendin' over backwards to just lay the world at your door.”
— Leona Williams, Songwriter
“You Take Me For Granted' was Williams' musical response, and that seemed to hit harder than anything she could have said to her then-husband face-to-face.”
— Daniel Cooper, Music journalist
What’s next
The song's success foreshadowed the eventual end of Haggard and Williams' marriage, which ended in divorce in 1983 after five years.
The takeaway
This story demonstrates the power of music to convey deep personal emotions and truths that can be difficult to express directly, even in the context of a high-profile celebrity relationship. It also highlights the challenges faced by creative couples whose professional and personal lives are so intertwined.
