Merle Haggard：Meaning of The Girl Turned Ripe Songmeaning

The Girl Turned Ripe is a song by Merle Haggard about a young girl who becomes of age and catches the attention of suitors. The song tells the story of two men who fall in love with her and seek the approval of her family to marry her. However, both fathers refuse to let their daughters go, stating that the girl has become ripe and the pickers have come, implying that she is now a desirable woman and many men will come for her. Despite these obstacles, the protagonist of the story perseveres and eventually marries the girl from Louisiana. They start a family with a daughter named Charmarie. The song is a celebration of love and the challenges that come with it, as well as a nod to the cultural traditions of the South.