"Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers. It was released in May 1982 as the third single from his album Big City. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. Content The theme of the song is the concern over irreversible moral decay. Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts References 1982 singles 1981 songs Merle Haggard songs Songs written by Merle Haggard Epic Records singles