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.
Lonesome Blue Yodel
Hank Snow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the break of day
Sorrow struck me one mornin'
At the break of day
'Cause a mean old man
Came and took my gal away
When I woke up
When I woke up
There was nothin' to do but rave
I knew she didn't want me
What she wanted was a slave
Since my mama's gone
I got that achin' heart disease
Since my mama's gone
I got that achin' heart disease
It works just like a cancer
Gonna kill me by degrees
When I met you, baby
I had a brand new pair of shoes
When I first met you, baby
I had a new pair of shoes
Take a look at me now
I got them barefooted blues
Hank Snow's song 'Lonesome Blue Yodel' is a sad and introspective tune that chronicles the singer's heartache and despair after his lover leaves him for someone else. The song begins with the haunting verse "Sorrow struck me one morning at the break of day, 'cause a mean old man came and took my gal away." This verse is particularly powerful as it captures the suddenness and brutality of heartbreak. The singer is powerless against fate and laments the loss of his love in a way that suggests he is struggling to cope.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is grappling with deep psychological pain. He confesses that "Since my mama's gone, I got that achin' heart disease, it works just like a cancer, gonna kill me by degrees." These lyrics are heart-wrenching as they highlight the depth of his sorrow and despair. He is not just grieving the loss of his lover, but also his mother, for whom he serves as a primary caregiver. The song ends on a melancholy note as the singer reveals that he has fallen on hard times, alluding to the fact that he is now barefooted, penniless, and alone.
In conclusion, 'Lonesome Blue Yodel' is a poignant song that captures the pain of heartbreak and loss. It is a song that speaks to the human condition and the fragility of our emotional states. The lyrics are powerful and convey an enormous amount of emotion, while the melody is a haunting and beautiful ode to sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Sorrow struck me one mornin'
I was hit with strong feelings of sadness one morning
At the break of day
early in the morning
'Cause a mean old man
An unkind man
Came and took my gal away
took my girlfriend from me
When I woke up
As soon as I became conscious
There was nothin' to do but rave
All I could do was speak incoherently
I knew she didn't want me
I was aware she didn't love me
What she wanted was a slave
She wanted someone to obey her every command
Since my mama's gone
After my mother passed away
I got that achin' heart disease
I felt immense emotional pain and heartache
It works just like a cancer
It's slowly destroying me from within
Gonna kill me by degrees
Will slowly and gradually cause my death
When I met you, baby
When I first met you
I had a brand new pair of shoes
I was happy and content
Take a look at me now
Look at me at this moment
I got them barefooted blues
I am unhappy and lacking in material possessions
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jimmie Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
purlin31622
on On The Beach At Waikiki
Should be spelled 'Honikau, a wikiwiki' per original 1915 sheet music at https://www.sheetmusicsinger.com/on-the-beach-at-waikiki/
Lowrie
on Galveston Rose
Lyric shouldn't have a question mark at the end; no big deal!