The Way I Am (Merle Haggard song)

"The Way I Am" is a song written by Sonny Throckmorton, and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in March 1980 as the first single and title track from his album The Way I Am. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart^[1] and number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.^[2]

"The Way I Am"
Single by Merle Haggard
from the album The Way I Am
B-side	"Wake Up"
Released	March 15, 1980
Genre	Country
Length	2:56
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Sonny Throckmorton
Producer(s)	Fuzzy Owen Don Gant
Merle Haggard singles chronology
"My Own Kind of Hat" (1979) "The Way I Am" (1980) "Bar Room Buddies" (1980)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3]	2
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)	Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4]	44

Cover versions

"The Way I Am"
Song by Alan Jackson
from the album Under the Influence
Released	October 26, 1999
Genre	Country
Length	3:05
Label	Arista Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Sonny Throckmorton
Producer(s)	Keith Stegall

• Alan Jackson recorded a version of the song on his 1999 album Under the Influence.
• Willy Mason recorded the song in 2006 on Australian radio station Triple J's Like a Version segment.
• Bonnie 'Prince' Billy recorded the song on his 2007 album Ask Forgiveness.
• Watermelon Slim recorded the song on his 2009 album Escape from the Chickencoop.
• Cody Jinks recorded the song for his 2016 album I'm Not the Devil.

References

1. Merle Haggard Billboard Singles
2. RPM Country Tracks
3. "Merle Haggard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
4. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1980". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.