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.
She Was Happy Till She Met You
Hank Snow Lyrics
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From a husband who had filled her heart with pain
On the table laid a note these simple words she wrote
Goodbye I hope we'll never meet again
To her mother she returned for her old home she had yearned
For all the love she had for him had pled
But he sought her out at last with her partners for the past
But her mother met him in the door and said
Id she wishes to forget you please leave her alone
She has come to her old mother because there is no other
She'll be happy in her home sweet home
[ fiddle - ac.guitar ]
I have come to say goodbye said the husband with a sigh
Just let me take her to my heart again
Says the mother it's too late all her love has turned to hate
So go your way your pleading heart's in vain
She's my wife the husband cried you can't take her from my side
The love I bet you part us we are wed
But the mother answered nay and sadly turned away
And once again to him she calmly said
She was happy till she met you...
The lyrics of Hank Snow's song "She Was Happy Till She Met You" tell a story about a young wife who ran away from her husband who had caused her heartache and pain. After returning to her mother's home, her former partner sought her out accompanied by her past partners. Her mother warned him to stay away from her daughter, saying that she was happier before she met him, and that he should leave her alone. The husband requested one last chance to plead his love to her, but her mother refused, stating that it was too late and that all her love for him had turned to hate. The song ends with the mother calmly reiterating that her daughter will be happy in her old home and telling him to leave.
The song could be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the corrosive effects of an abusive and loveless relationship. The young wife's escape from her husband is portrayed as a step towards her regaining emotional stability and finding happiness in her old home with her mother. Her mother's protection of her daughter's well-being and happiness is touching, particularly when she stands up to the husband who caused her daughter so much pain.
Fact 1: "She Was Happy Till She Met You" was released in 1957.
Fact 2: It was written by Bill Anderson.
Fact 3: Hank Snow's version reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
Fact 4: The song was later covered by several artists, including Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells, and George Jones.
Fact 5: The song was one of the first hits for songwriter Bill Anderson.
Fact 6: Anderson wrote the song after reading a newspaper article about a woman who had escaped from a violent relationship and returned to her mother's home.
Fact 7: The song was included on Hank Snow's album "The One and Only Hank Snow" released in 1967.
Fact 8: In 1965, the song was used as the title track for a movie directed by Gene Nelson.
Fact 9: The song has been described as a classic example of country music storytelling.
Fact 10: The song's melody is based on the 19th century Scottish ballad "Kelvin Grove".
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this song could not be provided as they may vary depending on the performer's interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
On a bright and sunny day when a young wife ran away
It was a day full of hope and positivity when a young woman left her husband who had made her feel nothing but pain.
From a husband who had filled her heart with pain
The reason for the wife's departure was her husband who had caused her deep emotional distress.
On the table laid a note these simple words she wrote
The wife left behind a note with concise words that expressed her farewell message.
Goodbye I hope we'll never meet again
The final message the wife conveyed in her note was that she hoped to never cross paths again with her estranged husband.
To her mother she returned for her old home she had yearned
The wife returned to her mother and childhood home where she had always felt a sense of belonging and yearned to be once again.
For all the love she had for him had pled
Despite the love she once had for her husband, the wife had begged him to change and stop causing her pain to no avail.
But he sought her out at last with her partners for the past
The estranged husband finally found the wife with her former romantic partners, hoping to win her back.
But her mother met him in the door and said
The husband was met with the wife's mother who stopped him at the door to speak with him.
She was happy till she met you the fault is all your own
The wife's mother reminded the husband that the wife was happy before they met, and the cause of the pain she felt was his own doing.
Id she wishes to forget you please leave her alone
The mother made it clear that if the wife wished to forget her husband and move on with her life, he should respect her wishes and leave her alone.
She has come to her old mother because there is no other
The wife only came to her mother as she had no one else she could turn to for comfort and support.
She'll be happy in her home sweet home
The wife's mother believed that her daughter would be happy once again in her old home surrounded by the love and comfort of her family.
[ fiddle - ac.guitar ]
This is a reference to the instrumental break in the song.
I have come to say goodbye said the husband with a sigh
The husband returned once again, this time to say his final goodbye to his wife.
Just let me take her to my heart again
The husband pleaded with the wife's mother to allow him to take his wife back into his life and heart once again.
Says the mother it's too late all her love has turned to hate
The mother firmly told the husband that it was too late to repair the damage he had done as the wife no longer loved him but rather felt resentment towards him.
So go your way your pleading heart's in vain
The mother recognized that the husband's pleading heart was in vain, and therefore advised him to go his own way.
She's my wife the husband cried you can't take her from my side
The husband proclaimed his love for his wife and claimed that no one could take her away from him.
The love I bet you part us we are wed
The husband believed that love would keep them together as they were legally wed.
But the mother answered nay and sadly turned away
The mother disagreed and said no to his plea and with a heavy heart, she turned away from him.
And once again to him she calmly said
The mother decided to leave the husband with a calm and final message.
She was happy till she met you...
The mother reiterated that the wife was happy before she met him and what followed was a result of his own actions.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ELSIE MCWILLIAMS, 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!