Hank Williams at 100: The country-music kingâs 10 best songs
Hank Williams set many a music-biz template. He was a “rollin’ stone” before Mick Jagger, and a guitar rogue before Keith Richards. A singer/songwriter before Bob Dylan. A successful talent who couldn’t get out of his own way before (INSERT FAMOUSLY SELF-DESTRUCTIVE MUSICIAN OF YOUR CHOICE HERE). Williams was even down with OPP before Naughty By Nature was.
Most of all though, Williams set the template for country star. “Back then the music was called “Country & Western.“)Now, 70 years later, country artists still haven’t surpassed the brilliance in Williams’ landmark recordings.
The Alabama native wrote songs that connected with listeners in a way few artists do, about feelings and urges that bind us all: love, heartbreak, and wanting to have a good time. A great song hits hardest with a great singer singing it, and Williams possessed a stirring singing voice. It goes straight to your soul.
Between scoring his first big hit in 1947 “Move It On Over,” and dying in 1953 at age 29 in the backseat of a Cadillac on the way to a Canton, Ohio gig, Williams released no less than 30 top 10 country singles. Another five came posthumously. He was later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. They eventually even gave him a Pulitzer Prize, too.
Born Hiram Williams in Mount Olive, Hank also resided in Montgomery, Mobile, Greenville and Georgiana, Alabama during his lifetime, as well as Nashville. Sept. 17, 2023 will mark the 100th anniversary of Williams’ birthday. In honor of that milestone, AL.com put together a list of the top 10 Hank Williams songs. Your list might be wildly different, which shouldn’t be a surprise given all the great Hank songs to pick from.
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10. “Honky Tonkin’”
Released: 1947/1948
Written by: Hank Williams
Williams recorded proto-party-anthem “Honky Tonkin’” twice. The first was a rootsier and fiddle-driven version, while the second was livelier and pushed by pedal-steel guitar.
Lyrics include: “When you and your baby have a fallin’ out/Just call me up sweet mama and we’ll go steppin’ out/And we’ll go honky tonkin’, honky tonkin’”
Other notable versions recorded by: Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, and Williams’ son Hank Williams Jr.
9. “Cold, Cold Heart”
Released: 1951
Written by: Hank Williams
An eventual number-one country hit, “Cold, Cold Heart” was actually the B-side to another Williams single, the more-uptempo “Dear John.”
Lyrics include: “Another love before my time made your heart sad and blue/And so my heart is paying now for things I didn’t do/In anger, unkind words are said that make the teardrops start/Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?”
Other notable versions recorded by: Norah Jones, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Jerry Lee Lewis.
8. “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It”
Released: 1949
Written by: Jazz pianist Clarence Williams owns the copyright, although Lee Blevins and Victor Sells may have originally penned the song
Williams is believed to have learned “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It” from Alabama blues musician Rufus Payne, who showed the young Williams a few tricks on guitar.
Lyrics include: “Well, there ain’t no use of me workin’ so hard’/ When I got a woman in the boss man’s yard/ ‘Cause my bucket’s got a hole in it/ Yeah, my bucket’s got a hole in it/ Yeah, my bucket’s got a hole in it/ I can’t buy no beer”
Other notable versions recorded by: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Ricky Nelson, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis.
7. “Your Cheatin’ Heart”
Released: 1953
Written by: Hank Williams
Cut in fall 1952 and released following Williams New Year’s Day 1953 death, topping country chart for six weeks. Williams reportedly dictated the song’s lyrics, about first wife Audrey Sheppard’s “cheating heart,” to girlfriend Billie Jean Jones Eshliman on a drive from Nashville to Shrevenport, La.
Lyrics include: “When tears come down/ Like falling rain/You’ll toss around/And call my name/You’ll walk the floor/The way I do/Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you”
Other notable versions recorded by: Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, Kelly Clarkson, Van Morrison, Beck, James Brown, Loretta Lynn, Fats Domino, Nat King Cole.
6. “Move It On Over”
Released: 1947
Written by: Hank Williams
Williams’ first top five hit, and recorded during the same sessions as “I Saw the Light” at Nashville’s Castle Studio with singer Red Foley’s band backing Williams.
Lyrics include: “The dog house here is mighty small/ But it’s better than no house at all/ So ease it on over (move it on over)/ Drag it on over (move it on over)/ Move over old dog ‘cause a new dog’s moving in”
Other notable versions recorded by: Bill Haley, George Thorogood, Hank Williams Jr.
5. “You Win Again”
Released: 1952
Written by: Hank Williams
Recorded the day after his divorce.
Lyrics include: “You have no heart; you have no shame/ You take true love and give the blame/ I guess that I should not complain/ I love you still you win again”
Other notable versions recorded by: Bob Dylan and The Band, Grateful Dead, Keith Richards, Martina McBride.
4. “Hey Good Lookin’”
Released: 1951
Written by: Hank Williams/Cole Porter
A variation of a 1940s Cole Porter tune of the same name, with Williams writing his version while on a plane flight.
Lyrics include: “Hey, hey, good lookin’/ Whatcha got cookin’?/ How’s about cookin’ something up with me?/ Hey, sweet baby/ Don’t you think maybe/ We could find us a brand new recipe?”
Other notable versions recorded by: Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett, Dean Martin, The Residents.
3. “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”
Released: 1952
Written by: Hank Williams
Number one country hit believed to have been co-written with pianist Moon Mullican, who reportedly was left uncredited (but compensated under the table) due to a contract with another record company.
Lyrics include: “Jambalaya, and a crawfish pie and a file gumbo/ ‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma chère amie-o/ Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh/ Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou”
Other notable versions recorded by: Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley, Lucinda Williams, Garth Brooks, Van Morrison, The Meters, The Carpenters, Shocking Blue.
2. “I Saw the Light”
Released: 1948
Written by: Hank Williams
Said to be inspired by a bleary Williams waking up and hearing his mother say “I saw the light” while riding back to Montgomery after a gig
Lyrics include: “Just like a blind man I wandered along/ Worries and fears I claimed for my own/ Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight/ Praise the Lord I saw the light”
Other notable versions recorded by: Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, Aaron Neville.
1. “Lost Highway”
Released: 1949
Written by: Leon Payne
One of the few iconic Williams recordings that wasn’t a notable hit – or written/co-written by him.
Lyrics include: “Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine/And a woman’s lies makes a life like mine/ Oh the day we met, I went astray/ I started rolling down that lost highway”
Other notable versions recorded by: Jeff Buckley, Leon Russell, The Replacements.
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