(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers

1964 song by Liz Anderson August 2026 (My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers single Merle Haggard Strangers Please Mr. D.J. November 2, 1964 Country 2:20 Capitol Liz Anderson Ken NelsonFuzzy Owen Sam Hill 1964 I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can 1965 (From Now On All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers single Roy Drusky Birmingham Jail January 4, 1965 Country 2:23 Mercury Liz Anderson Shelby SingletonJerry Kennedy Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall 1964 Yes, Mr. Peters 1965 "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" is a song written by Liz Anderson. Best remembered as American country music artist Merle Haggard's first national top-10 record, it was also a top-10 song concurrently for Roy Drusky. The song is also known as All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers, (From Now On) All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers, and simply Strangers. Haggard went on to name his band the Strangers after the record's success. The song was subsequently recorded by scores of additional country stars as album tracks, including George Jones, Ernest Tubb, Porter Wagoner, and Ferlin Husky, as well as Liz Anderson herself and her daughter Lynn Anderson. Background and writing Liz Anderson wrote the song circa 1964 and had sent it to Nashville producers. Her friend Bonnie Owens encouraged her to meet with Haggard (Owens' beau at the time) and pitch some of her songs to the newcomer. Anderson was reluctant to do so, having already had songs recorded by national artists and not particularly interested in a regional performer and having never heard Haggard, not certain he had talent' but agreed to meet with him out of her loyalty to Owens. Haggard likewise had never heard of Anderson and was not particularly pleased that Bonnie insisted they go to the Anderson home to listen to some songs. Merle and Liz hit it off, though, and both proved to be in awe of the other's talents, with Haggard eventually recording several songs by Anderson he heard that night. He was particularly taken with "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" and rushed into the studio to record it and planned it for a single release. After the track had been cut and the single printed, all involved learned Roy Drusky had also just recorded it and was releasing it as a single. Although both Drusky and Haggard versions eventually made it into the Billboard Hot Country Singles top 10, the competing records undoubtedly kept either version for being a top-five and perhaps number-one record. Content The song's narrator is embittered by a deceitful lover, not only vowing to be through with love, but also not trusting in anyone at all. Chart performance Merle Haggard Chart (1964–1965)PeakpositionBillboardcountrysongs 10 Merle Haggard Roy Drusky Chart (1965)PeakpositionBillboardcountrysongs 6 Roy Drusky References Category:1964 singles Category:1965 singles Category:Songs written by Liz Anderson Category:Merle Haggard songs Category:Roy Drusky songs Category:Song recordings produced by Ken Nelson (American record producer) Category:Song recordings produced by Jerry Kennedy Category:Capitol Records singles Category:Mercury Records singles Category:1964 songs