"Kern River" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in July 1985 as the only single and title track from his album Kern River. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Content The song grimly recounts the story of the singer's girlfriend drowning in the Kern River, California. In the 2013 biography Merle Haggard: The Running Kind writer David Cantwell calls the track "a scary record" that "screamed quiet and startled you alive." Personnel Merle Haggard– vocals, guitar, fiddle The Strangers: Roy Nichols - guitar Norm Hamlet - steel guitar Tiny Moore - fiddle, mandolin Mark Yeary - keyboards Dennis Hromek - bass Biff Adams - drums Jim Belkin - fiddle Chart performance Covers "Kern River" was covered by Dave Alvin on his 2006 album West of the West, and by Emmylou Harris on her 2008 album All I Intended to Be. References Merle Haggard songs Emmylou Harris songs 1985 singles 1985 songs Epic Records singles Kern River Songs written by Merle Haggard