This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs involving Above | Below | Between for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday.

This week I chose “Somewhere Between” by Merle Haggard and “Just Between the Two of Us”, a duet with Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens.

There is a lot of irony in this story of three individuals related to these songs. Merle Haggard & Bonnie Owens released “Just Between the Two of Us” in 1966 and Merle Haggard recorded “Somewhere Between” in 1967.

Merle Haggard was married 5 times and had 4 children. Merle’s second wife was Bonnie Owens. Some years earlier, Bonnie had met Buck Owens at age 15. Bonnie & Buck married in 1948 and moved to Bakersfield, California where they launched both of their singing careers. Of course, they later divorced. Bonnie was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music in 1965 and Merle & Bonnie were married later that year. He credits her for helping him make his big break as a country artist. They share writing credit for his hit “Today I Started Loving You Again”. Bonnie dedicated herself to the care of Merle’s children from his first marriage & continued to be a back-up singer for his band, The Strangers. Merle & Bonnie divorced in 1978 and Bonnie was the maid of honor for his third marriage. She continued to tour with him after their divorce.

Just had to throw this in to complete the story with the triangle of Merle, Bonnie & Buck.

I thought this couple was just adorable & wanted to share with everyone!

SONG FACTS – Somewhere Between

• Written by Gene Simmons & Vini Poncia. Gene Simmons known as Jumpin’ Gene Simmons (not KISS’ bassist Gene Simmons who chose this stage name from his birth name Chaim Witz as a tribute to the man born Morris Eugene Simmons). Simmons began his recording career with Sun Records & performed as an opening act for Elvis Presley in 1958.
• Merle Haggard released this song in 1967 on his album “Branded Man”.
• Suzy Bogguss’ debut studio album was named “Somewhere Between” and was released on March 21, 1989 through Capitol Records.

“Somewhere Between”

Somewhere between your heart and mine
There's a window that I can't see through
There's a wall so high it reaches the sky
Somewhere between me and you
I love you so much I can't let you go
And sometimes I believe you love me
But somewhere between your heart and mine
There's a door without any key
Somewhere between your heart and mine
There's a love I can't understand
It's there for a while then it fades like a smile
And I'm left in the middle again
Somewhere between your heart and mine
There's a window that I can't see through
There's a wall so high it reaches the sky
Somewhere between me and you
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Gene Simmons / Vini Poncia
Somewhere Between lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

SONG FACTS – Just Between the Two of Us

• It was a duet album by Bonnie Owens & Merle Haggard with The Strangers.
• Released in 1966 by the duo. Bonnie was the better known performer who was a mainstay on the Bakersfield club scene, had a recording deal & appeared on television.
• It was a minor hit as a duet. As part of the deal to get Merle signed to Capitol records, producer Ken Nelson obtained the rights to Merle’s songs, including this duet.
• The album reached #4 on the country albums chart.

“Just Between the Two of Us”

Just between the two of us, we know our love is gone
People think it's wonderful our love can be so true
You never say an angry word no matter what I do
And you have so much faith in me you trust me anywhere
But the reason if they only knew is that we just don't care
Just between the two of us, let's give up this fantasy
For we no longer care enough to even disagree
Everybody envies us and the way we get along
But just between the two of us, we know our love is gone
Wish we could go back again to days that used to be
We fought a lot but even then I knew you cared for me
Now we get along so well no teardrops ever fall
But there's no love, no anything, there's nothing left at all
Just between the two of us, let's give up this fantasy
For we no longer care enough to even disagree
Everybody envies us and the way we get along
But just between the two of us, we know our love is gone
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Anderson
Just Between the Two of Us lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC