Crawford was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He began formal piano studies at age nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service and when Hank entered Manassas High School, he took it up in order to join the band. He credits Charlie Parker, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges as early influences.
Crawford appears on an early 1952 Memphis recording for B.B. King with a band including Ben Branch and Ike Turner.
In 1958 Crawford went to college at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at TSU, he majored in music studying theory and composition, as well as playing alto and baritone saxophone in the Tennessee State Jazz Collegians. He also led his own rock 'n' roll quartet, "Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings". His bandmates all thought he looked and sounded just like Hank O'Day, a legendary local saxophonist, which earned him the nickname "Hank". This is when Crawford met Ray Charles, who hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band—becoming its musical director until 1963.
When Crawford left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own septet, he had already established himself with several albums for Atlantic Records. From 1960 until 1970, he recorded twelve LPs for the label, many while balancing his earlier duties as Ray’s director. He released such pre-crossover hits as “Misty”, “The Peeper”, “Skunky Green”, and “Whispering Grass”.
He also has done musical arrangement for Etta James, Lou Rawls, and others. Much of his career has been in R&B, but in the 1970s he had several successful jazz albums with I Hear a Symphony reaching 11 on Billboard's Jazz albums list and 159 for Pop albums.
David Sanborn cites Crawford as being one of his primary influences. Crawford is recognized by saxophonists as having a particularly unique and pleasing sound. In 1981, he featured, with fellow horn players Ronnie Cuber and David Newman, on B. B. King's There Must Be a Better World Somewhere.
In 1983 he moved to Milestone Records as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands including guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John. In 1986, Crawford began working with blues-jazz organ master Jimmy McGriff. They recorded four co-leader dates for Milestone Records: Soul Survivors, Steppin’ Up, On the Blue Side, and Road Tested, and toured together extensively.
The new century found Crawford, shifting gears and going for a more mainstream jazz set in his 2000 release The World of Hank Crawford. Though the songs are compositions from jazz masters such as Duke Ellington and Tadd Dameron, he delivers in that sanctified church sound that is his trademark. Followed by The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff (2001), and Back (2007).
Hard Times
Hank Crawford Lyrics
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Said son when I'm gone don't forget to pray
'Cause there'll be hard times, hard times, oh yeah
Who knows better than I?
Well, I soon found out, just what she meant
When I had to pawn my clothes, just to pay my rent
Talkin' 'bout hard times, hard times, oh yeah
I had a woman, Lord, who was always around
But when I lost my money, then she put me down
Talkin' 'bout hard times, you know those hard
Yeah Lord, who knows better than I?
Yeah Lord, yeah, one of these days
There'll be no more sorrow, when I pass away
And no more hard times, I said no more hard
Yeah Lord, who knows, yeah Lord, better than I?
The song "Hard Times" by Hank Crawford is a soulful and emotional reflection on the difficulties of life. The lyrics are deeply personal, as the singer recounts the advice given to him by his mother before she passed away. She told him to pray, as there would be hard times in life, and he soon found out just what she meant. The singer was forced to pawn his clothes to pay rent and lost his woman when he lost his money. However, the song also offers a message of hope, as the singer looks forward to a time where he will no longer have to face hard times after he passes away.
The song is a reminder of the struggles and challenges that many people face in their lives. It speaks to the complexity of relationships and the impact that financial difficulties can have on them. Throughout the song, the singer's resilience and determination shine through, as he faces his hardships head-on and looks towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
My mother told me, before she passed away
Before my mother left this world, she shared some important advice with me
Said son when I'm gone don't forget to pray
My mother instructed me to not forget to pray after she has passed away
'Cause there'll be hard times, hard times, oh yeah
My mother warned me that there will be difficult and trying times ahead
Who knows better than I?
My mother knew what she was talking about and had firsthand experience with hard times
Well, I soon found out, just what she meant
I quickly learned that my mother's warning was not to be taken lightly
When I had to pawn my clothes, just to pay my rent
I was forced to sell my clothes for money, just so I could afford to keep a roof over my head
Talkin' 'bout hard times, hard times, oh yeah
These were the very hard times that my mother had warned me about
Who knows [Incomprehensible] better than I?
No one understands the struggles of hard times better than I do
I had a woman, Lord, who was always around
I was with a woman who was always there for me
But when I lost my money, then she put me down
However, when I was broke and had no money, she turned her back on me
Talkin' 'bout hard times, you know those hard
These were the hard times that my mother had warned me about, and they were made harder by my partner's betrayal
Yeah Lord, who knows better than I?
At times like these, I realize that I am the one who truly understands the struggles of hard times
Yeah Lord, yeah, one of these days
I have faith that one day in the future
There'll be no more sorrow, when I pass away
I will no longer experience sadness or hardship when I die and leave this earthly world behind
And no more hard times, I said no more hard
I believe that there will be no more struggles and hardships after I pass away
Yeah Lord, who knows, yeah Lord, better than I?
After everything I have been through, I truly believe that no one understands hard times better than I do
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAY CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind