Perhaps best known for his distinct yodelling, he charted more than seventy singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980, including the Number One hits 'I'm Movin' On' and 'I Don't Hurt Anymore'. Performing in lavish and colourful sequin-studded suits, Snow had a career covering six decades during which he sold more than 80 million albums, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1979.
THERE IS A HANK SNOW MUSEUM CLOSE TO BROOKLYN IN LIVERPOOL, NOVA SCOTIA, APPROPRIATELY, IT IS HOUSED IN AN ABANDONED TRAIN STATION. VERY WELL DONE
I reckon Hank Snow was better known for his distinctive self taught guitar style. Hank was influenced by the famous Rail road blues singer Jimmie Rodgers and though Hank did copy Rodgers style in his early days, including the "blue yodel" he later abandoned this and developed his own gritty style of singing. His guitar playing was so good he once cut a duet album of guitar music with the late Chet Atkins, master country Guitarist and music producer for RCA Victor. Hank was with RCA Victor label for almost 50 years and towards the end of his waning career RCA dropped him, just before he would have celebrated his half century with that label-always thought that was a bit mean of them.. Hank Snow and his Rainbow ranch boys, with Chubby Hayes on fiddle gave really great live concerts and the singing and playing they did was superlative and sounded as good as, if not equal to their recorded works.
I'm Moving On
Hank Snow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Means your true lovin' daddy ain't comin' back
'Cause I'm movin' on, I'll soon be gone
You were flyin' too high for my little old sky
So I'm movin' on
That big loud whistle as it blew and blew
Said hello to the Southland, we're comin' to you
You had the laugh on me so I've set you free
And I'm movin' on
Mister fireman, won't you please listen to me?
'Cause I got a pretty mama in Tennessee
Keep movin' me on, keep rollin' on
So shovel the coal, let this rattle a roll
And keep movin' me on
Mister engineer, take that throttle in hand
This rattler's the fastest in the southern land
To keep movin' me on, keep rollin' on
You're gonna ease my mind, put me there on time
And keep rollin' on
I told you, baby, from time to time
But you just wouldn't listen or pay me no mind
Now I'm movin' on, I'm rollin' on
You've broken your vow and it's all over now
So I'm movin' on
You switched your engine now I ain't got time
For a trifling woman on my main line
'Cause I'm movin' on, you done your daddy wrong
I warned you twice, now you can settle the price
'Cause I'm movin' on
But someday, baby, when you've had your play
You're gonna want your daddy but your daddy will say
Keep movin' on, you stayed away too long
I'm through with you, too bad you're blue
Keep movin' on
Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" depicts a train ride as a metaphor for leaving behind a failed relationship. With the sound of the "big eight wheeler", the singer acknowledges that his partner won't be returning and that he is "movin' on". He remembers the laughter directed at him because his former partner was "flyin' too high" and staying on the train that he is on would not work for him. As the train rolls on, the sound of the whistle signals that he is heading into the Southland, beginning a new and exciting journey. The singer then calls on the train crew to keep him moving forwards.
As the song progresses, the singer addresses the fireman and the engineer, calling on them to help him towards his destination, putting his past behind him. He recollects that he had warned his former partner twice but was ignored, and now that he is leaving, she is regretful. In his final verse, the singer tells his partner that should she ever want to return, it will be too late and that he is "through with her".
Line by Line Meaning
That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track
The train heading out of town means that the singer's father-figure won't come back.
'Cause I'm movin' on, I'll soon be gone
The singer is leaving the town because of a failed relationship and is moving onto new things.
You were flyin' too high for my little old sky
The person in the singer's past relationship had dreams beyond what the singer could provide, leading to the end of their relationship.
That big loud whistle as it blew and blew
The train whistle signals the singer moving away from the Southland, towards new beginnings.
And we're movin' on, oh hear my song
The singer is expressing his determination for change, asking people to acknowledge his journey through song.
You had the laugh on me so I've set you free
The person the singer was dating took advantage of the singer's feelings, leading to them breaking up.
Mister fireman, won't you please listen to me?
The singer is requesting help from the fireman to get him to Tennessee where his girlfriend lives.
Keep movin' me on, keep rollin' on
The singer is urging the train to keep moving towards his destination.
So shovel the coal, let this rattle a roll
The singer wants to move away as soon as possible and urges the train to speed up.
Mister engineer, take that throttle in hand
The singer is entrusting the engineer to take control and make sure they reach their destination on time.
To keep movin' me on, keep rollin' on
The singer again asks to keep the train moving towards his destination.
You're gonna ease my mind, put me there on time
The singer is depending on the engineer to get him to his destination on time to comfort his worried mind.
I told you, baby, from time to time
The singer warned his ex-partner about their behavior regularly but they didn't pay attention.
Now I'm movin' on, I'm rollin' on
The singer has left the past behind and is moving on.
You've broken your vow and it's all over now
The singer's ex did something that broke the trust and the relationship is now over.
'Cause I'm movin' on, you done your daddy wrong
The singer is leaving town because of his partner's infidelity.
I warned you twice, now you can settle the price
The singer gave his ex-partner two warnings and now they'll have to deal with the consequences of their actions.
But someday, baby, when you've had your play
The singer believes his ex-partner will regret their actions after they've had some time and space to reflect.
You're gonna want your daddy but your daddy will say
The singer expects his ex-partner to come back to him, but he will be the one to reject them.
Keep movin' on, you stayed away too long
The singer won't forgive his ex-partner and urges them to keep moving on.
I'm through with you, too bad you're blue
The singer is done with the relationship and doesn't feel bad for his ex-partner's sadness.
Keep movin' on
The singer ends the song with a final reminder to keep moving forward in life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Snow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leattaleake8756
I grew up on Hank Snow. AND he was Canadian. I still love the old country the best.
@johnnocera3034
This is real country. Who remembers?
@Dennis-dn4wt
damn straight ya got that part
@michael-dy8tz
Yes, me. I hate todays so called country and the grand ole opra has turned into a nightmare.
@arthurdunn1452
I do!!! Australia 🇦🇺
@pamelanrobert
My Uncle Chubby Wise on the fiddle....... He was an awesome man.... Miss him so much..
@ericcutshall8982
Chubby Wise was a great fiddler - I enjoyed his work with Hank Snow and Flatt & Scruggs.
@alancameron2433
Bless the sacred memory.
@SunnysideElla
What a talented guy Chubby Wise was, and a great smile to with it😀!
@stevenyourke7901
That’s sweet!