Some songs don’t just speak to the heart—they live there. “Today I Started Loving You Again” is one of those songs. Written by Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens, this country classic has been covered by countless artists, but few renditions stand as tall—or as emotionally raw—as those by Merle Haggard himself and the legendary Marty Robbins.
This is a song about regret, realization, and the slow ache of love that never really went away. It’s simple. It’s honest. And it cuts deep.
The Story Behind the Song
Originally released by Merle Haggard in 1968, the song wasn’t a major hit at the time—but it grew into one of his most beloved tracks. Written alongside his then-wife Bonnie Owens, the lyrics came from a very personal place—about the complicated emotions that can follow a breakup.
“Today I started loving you again / I’m right back where I’ve really always been…”
It’s about that haunting feeling when you think you’ve moved on—only to realize that love was just hiding beneath the surface, waiting to hurt you all over again.
Merle Haggard: The Voice of Truth
Haggard’s version is understated but powerful. He doesn’t oversing it. He doesn’t need to. His voice carries the weight of someone who’s lived every word. The steel guitar moans softly in the background, the pace is slow and deliberate, and the lyrics hit like a quiet thunderstorm of emotion.
This is classic Merle—authentic, vulnerable, and completely grounded in real human experience.
Marty Robbins: Smooth and Soulful
While Marty Robbins didn’t write the song, his cover brings a smooth, polished warmth that only he could deliver. Known for his versatility—from gunfighter ballads to romantic crooners—Marty added a unique layer of tenderness to the track.
Where Haggard’s version feels weathered and raw, Robbins’ version feels reflective and aching, like someone looking back at lost love with a soft, pained smile.
Both versions are different—but both are heartbreakingly good.
Why This Song Still Resonates
More than 50 years after it was written, “Today I Started Loving You Again” remains one of the most covered and cherished country ballads of all time. Why? Because the feeling it describes is universal.
Almost everyone has had that moment—where you think you’re over someone, only to realize you never really were. And no matter how strong you try to be, that one name, that one memory, can bring it all flooding back.
That’s the kind of emotional honesty that made Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins legends—they didn’t just sing songs. They felt them. And they made you feel them too.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never heard “Today I Started Loving You Again”, do yourself a favor and listen to both versions. Start with Merle Haggard’s original—let it sink in slowly. Then play Marty Robbins’ take and hear the same story told from a slightly different emotional place.
Two men. Two voices. One unforgettable song.
Because some love stories don’t end. They just pause… and start all over again.
