--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there ever was a poet for the working…" description: "\"If there ever was a poet for the working class Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard would be my nomination\" — David Allan Coe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png" --- # If there ever was a poet for the working class Billy Joe… ![“If there ever was a poet for the working class Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard would be my nomination” quote by David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png) > “If there ever was a poet for the working class Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard would be my nomination” [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The working‑class poet is embodied by Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard, whose songs give voice to labor struggles. **In simple terms:** Their music reflects working‑class life. Key Takeaway Listen to their lyrics for insight. Themes music class voice Mood nostalgic respectful Type musical cultural When to use this quote - radio - concerts - cultural study Key Concepts folk tradition authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do their songs portray labor? - What modern artists continue this tradition? A Different Perspective Commercialization can dilute authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-billy-3878202/) [Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haggard/) [Joe Shaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joe-shaver-3878203/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merle-haggard/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-working-3607042/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) ## Related quotes > [“I continued toward Atlanta with a Merle Haggard C.D. playing on the stereo. They weren't great hosts, but those guys in The Ted Kaczynski…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcclellan/i-continued-toward-atlanta-with-a-merle-haggard-c-d-playing-on-the/) [Ian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcclellan/) > [Around 14, I was turned on to Shania, Reba, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood... and I've followed it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bell-bundy/around-14-i-was-turned-on-to-shania-reba-merle-haggard-garth-brooks/) [Laura Bell Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bell-bundy/) > [The records in the house I really remember were, well, Glen Campbell's 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Galveston.' Even as a kid, I knew these songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/the-records-in-the-house-i-really-remember-were-well-glen-campbell-s/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) > [I just got into it like a lot of people through the rock 'n' roll bands in the late '60s that turned to country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-just-got-into-it-like-a-lot-of-people-through-the-rock-n-roll-bands/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [It's cool when your husband starts to sing some old Merle Haggard song and I can pop in with a harmony and it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/it-s-cool-when-your-husband-starts-to-sing-some-old-merle-haggard/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [And I think it's safe to say that the single very impressive figure to me was Merle Haggard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/and-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-the-single-very-impressive-figure/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley - guys like that were huge influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggard-and-keith-whitley-guys-like/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I think my brand of country music is that's been influenced by not just the rough-stock rodeo side or Ted Nugent's "let's get crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-johnson/i-think-my-brand-of-country-music-is-that-s-been-influenced-by-not/) [Cody Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-johnson/) > [I had always loved music. I grew up listening to classic country, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard. My dad loved Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-had-always-loved-music-i-grew-up-listening-to-classic-country/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [If I'm listening to country, it's Hank Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard and stuff like that. If people out there don't take that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/if-i-m-listening-to-country-it-s-hank-williams-george-jones-merle/) [Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/) > [There's just enough drinking and cheating songs around without me adding to them. Unless you've got something better than "Misery and Gin" by Merle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-watson/there-s-just-enough-drinking-and-cheating-songs-around-without-me/) [Aaron Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-watson/) > [My music comes from country music. Merle Haggard is God, and I do believe that. I'm not too tuned in to country music. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/my-music-comes-from-country-music-merle-haggard-is-god-and-i-do/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [I listen to Lil Wayne, and then I listen to Merle Haggard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-farr/i-listen-to-lil-wayne-and-then-i-listen-to-merle-haggard/) [Tyler Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-farr/) > [I really like Alan Jackson, in Country Music. I think he's really very, very talented along with George Jones, and Merle Haggard, the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-tucker/i-really-like-alan-jackson-in-country-music-i-think-he-s-really-very/) [Tanya Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-tucker/) > [I listen more to music when I'm on my computer. I'm into the latest YouTube thing. I'm a nanosecond kind of listener, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccoy/i-listen-more-to-music-when-i-m-on-my-computer-i-m-into-the-latest/) [Jason McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccoy/) ## More by David Allan Coe > [Anybody who goes searching can find enough artistic things I've done that nobody can ever say I sold out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/anybody-who-goes-searching-can-find-enough-artistic-things-i-ve-done/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [Marty Robbins once sang you give me a mountain, I've been given a few mountains in my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/marty-robbins-once-sang-you-give-me-a-mountain-i-ve-been-given-a-few/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [I've never wanted anybody to like me because I had long hair or short hair, or that they liked the way I dressed or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/i-ve-never-wanted-anybody-to-like-me-because-i-had-long-hair-or-short/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [Freedom cannot be given... It can only be taken away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/freedom-cannot-be-given-it-can-only-be-taken-away/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [I've written songs about things that nobody else has ever written about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/i-ve-written-songs-about-things-that-nobody-else-has-ever-written/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [All men are created equal, it is only men themselves who place themselves above equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/all-men-are-created-equal-it-is-only-men-themselves-who-place/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [My long hair just can't cover up my redneck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/my-long-hair-just-can-t-cover-up-my-redneck/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [Teach my children to love! They'll learn to hate on their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/teach-my-children-to-love-they-ll-learn-to-hate-on-their-own/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [Everybody started saying, well, this cat's not as dumb as people think he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/everybody-started-saying-well-this-cat-s-not-as-dumb-as-people-think/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [I've never wanted anybody to like me because I had long hair or short hair, or that they liked the way I dressed or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/i-ve-never-wanted-anybody-to-like-me-because-i-had-long-hair-or-short-2/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [Now I lay me down to cheat on the woman I love so, and if I die between these sheets I pray to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/now-i-lay-me-down-to-cheat-on-the-woman-i-love-so-and-if-i-die/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [The Beatles were just the beginning of everything music could be, just like the Stones I was Rolling along like a ship lost out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/the-beatles-were-just-the-beginning-of-everything-music-could-be-just/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [I took the hardest possible route that you could take, and I still overcame and succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/i-took-the-hardest-possible-route-that-you-could-take-and-i-still/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [You don't have to call me 'Mister', Mister; The whole world called me 'Hank'!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/you-don-t-have-to-call-me-mister-mister-the-whole-world-called-me-hank/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) > [One thing is certain, You can't shake hands with a fist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/one-thing-is-certain-you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-fist/) [David Allan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) [Explore all 17 David Allan Coe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there ever was a poet for the working class Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard would be my nomination", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Allan Coe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working-class-billy-joe-shaver-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working-class-billy-joe-shaver-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/david-allan-coe-30301_class_if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working_2863698.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there ever was a poet for the working class Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard would be my nomination” — David Allan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Allan Coe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allan-coe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there ever was a poet...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working-class-billy-joe-shaver-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allan-coe/if-there-ever-was-a-poet-for-the-working-class-billy-joe-shaver-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```