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.
Miller's Cave
Hank Snow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the swamps and everglades
There's a hole in Tiger Mountain
God help the man who gets lost in Miller's Cave.
I had a girl (had a girl)
In Waycross, Georgia (Waycross, Georgia) but she had unfaithful ways
Made me feel (made me feel) I was unwanted (so unwanted)
I couldn't stand the way she did me
Couldn't take her low down ways
Before I'd stay with a cheatin' woman
I'll go live the bears in Miller's Cave.
I caught her out (caught her out) one Sunday morning (Sunday morning)
With a man they call Big Dave
Meanest man (meanest man) in Waycross, Georgia (Waycross, Georgia)
I'd rather fight a Mountain Lion in Miller's Cave.
I said you'll pay, both you and Davey
I must see you in your grave
They laughed at me and then I shot 'em
I took their cheatin', schemin' bones to Miller's Cave.
That woman made (woman made) me feel unwanted (so unwanted)
But I showed 'em I was brave
Most wanted man in the state of Georgia
But they'll never find me 'cause I'm lost in Miller's Cave.
Dark cold, cave, Miller's Cave.
The lyrics to Hank Snow's Miller's Cave paints a vivid picture of a dark, foreboding place located in the state of Georgia. There's an air of danger that hangs over the entire song, from the description of the swampy terrain and Tiger Mountain to the warning that getting lost in Miller's Cave would be a perilous experience. The singer recounts a story of a woman from Waycross, Georgia who cheated and disrespected him, ultimately driving him to kill both her and her lover. The lyrics are full of themes of revenge, regret, and danger, culminating in the singer claiming that he's the most wanted man in the state but that the authorities will never find him since he's hiding within Miller's Cave.
The lyrics of Miller's Cave are a prime example of a classic country song that tells a tale of heartbreak, revenge, and violence in a way that's both engaging and memorable. The song's dark tone and themes of danger and revenge harken back to traditional American folk songs that often involved stories of people wronged seeking their own form of justice. The lyrics' vivid imagery of the swampy terrain and perilous caves help to set the scene for the more violent acts that occur later in the song, and the final verse provides a haunting image of the singer hiding out in Miller's Cave, forever a fugitive lurking in the shadows.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down in the state of Georgia
In a southern state filled with mystery and intrigue
Through the swamps and everglades
Navigating a treacherous landscape full of danger
There's a hole in Tiger Mountain
A hidden crevasse in a mountain that is hard to find
God help the man who gets lost in Miller's Cave.
A warning to anyone who ventures into Miller's Cave
I had a girl (had a girl)
I was in a relationship with a woman
In Waycross, Georgia (Waycross, Georgia) but she had unfaithful ways
However, she was disloyal and untrustworthy
Made me feel (made me feel) I was unwanted (so unwanted)
Caused me to feel like nobody wanted me
Like the bats and the bears in Miller's Cave.
Comparable to the undesirable creatures in Miller's Cave
I couldn't stand the way she did me
Her actions toward me were intolerable
Couldn't take her low down ways
Her immoral behavior was unbearable
Before I'd stay with a cheatin' woman
Rather than stay with a deceitful woman
I'll go live the bears in Miller's Cave.
Would rather live amongst the bears in Miller's Cave
I caught her out (caught her out) one Sunday morning (Sunday morning)
I discovered her cheating on me one Sunday morning
With a man they call Big Dave
With a notoriously malicious man named Big Dave
Meanest man (meanest man) in Waycross, Georgia (Waycross, Georgia)
Ranks as the most nefarious person in his hometown of Waycross, Georgia
I'd rather fight a Mountain Lion in Miller's Cave.
Would prefer confronting a mountain lion in Miller's Cave than dealing with Big Dave
I said you'll pay, both you and Davey
Threatened revenge against both Big Dave and my unfaithful woman
I must see you in your grave
Desired to see them dead
They laughed at me and then I shot 'em
Laughed at my threats, so I shot them both
I took their cheatin', schemin' bones to Miller's Cave.
I hid their remains in the desolate Miller's Cave
That woman made (woman made) me feel unwanted (so unwanted)
My unfaithful woman made me feel worthless
But I showed 'em I was brave
I redeemed myself by demonstrating courage
Most wanted man in the state of Georgia
Became a fugitive and the most sought-after criminal in Georgia
But they'll never find me 'cause I'm lost in Miller's Cave.
But I have eluded capture by hiding in Miller's Cave
Dark cold, cave, Miller's Cave.
A chilling, foreboding reference to Miller's Cave
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack H. Clement
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Bass
My Dad saw Hank Snow perform in a small venue on a base in Germany long long ago. He sent an invitation to Mr. Snow through the waitress to join him in a beer. He said Mr. Snow came out after the show and chatted with him for about half an hour. Dad said he was a complete gentleman and a wonderful person. Told the story often for the rest of his life.
Ross Kelly
Loved hearing that my names Ben... on my poor old friend rosss phone, hank snow was one of the greatest of all time
try_me_guy
That's freaking cool! Hank snow is a legend!
Edgar DeSouza
There'll never be another Hank Snow. What a joy to hear him sing.
Dahyle55
I grew up with Hank's music - 40 years later I still love it!
Ryan Frostad
They don't make country music like this anymore! Real and timeless country.
auke524
This song has an interesting history. It was written by "Cowboy" Jack Clement and first recorded by a rather obscure country singer named Tommy Tucker. Tucker's version was released in January 1960 on the Hi Records label, and covered in June of that year by Hank Snow. There is no such cave in Waycross, Georgia but that didn't stop the tourists from going there for many years looking for it! If you haven't heard the original recording of the song, check it out.
bryand valdez
Where’s is the cave ? Texas ? I’m from waycross and been looking lol
Phil Holloway
Pure country!!! Joy to the ears!!!! RIP Hank 🙏💔😢
tippimail1
Hank's version nails it!I'm a huge Hank Snow fan.R.I.P.,Hank.