Merle Haggard's song "Mobile Bay" is about a group of homeless men who gather around a garbage can, sharing their stories and trying to keep warm. The song describes the different perspectives and experiences of these men, from the religious man who believes in Jesus to the man who only knows the harshness of January. However, the narrator of the song has his own story to tell. He reminisces about his life before he became homeless, specifically about Mobile Bay in Alabama. He remembers the magnolia blossoms, warm summer nights, rolling sea, and his lost dreams. The song ends with the narrator hoping that one day he will be able to return to the beauty and memories of Mobile Bay and to the woman he calls Sweet Rosalee. Overall, "Mobile Bay" is a poignant and vividly descriptive song that portrays the struggles and hopes of homeless individuals and their longing for a place and time of peace and refuge.
