Born in Mount Olive, Butler County, Alabama, Williams moved to Georgiana, where he met Rufus Payne, a black street performer who gave him guitar lessons in exchange for meals. Payne had a major influence on Williams's later musical style. During this time, Williams informally changed his name to Hank, believing it to be a better name for country music. After moving to Montgomery, Williams began his career in 1937 when WSFA radio station producers hired him to perform and host a 15-minute program. He formed as backup the Drifting Cowboys band, which was managed by his mother, and dropped out of school to devote all of his time to his career.
When several of his band members were conscripted to military service during World War II, Williams had trouble with their replacements and started drinking heavily, causing WSFA to dismiss him. Williams eventually married Audrey Sheppard, who became his manager for nearly a decade. After recording "Never Again" and "Honky Tonkin'" with Sterling Records, he signed a contract with MGM Records. In 1948 he released "Move it on Over," which became a hit, and also joined the Louisiana Hayride radio program. In 1949, he released a cover of "Lovesick Blues," which carried him into the mainstream of music. After an initial rejection, Williams joined the Grand Ole Opry. He had 11 number one songs between 1948 and 1953, though he was unable to read or notate music to any significant degree. Among the hits he wrote were "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'," and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."
During his last years Williams's consumption of alcohol, morphine and other painkillers severely compromised his professional and personal life. He divorced his wife and was dismissed by the Grand Ole Opry due to frequent drunkenness. Williams died suddenly in the early morning hours of New Years Day in 1953 at the age of 29. Despite his short life, Williams has had a major influence on country music. The songs he wrote and recorded have been covered by numerous artists, many of whom have also had hits with the tunes, in a range of pop, gospel, blues and rock styles.
Alabama governor Gordon Persons officially proclaimed September 21 "Hank Williams Day". The first celebration, in 1954 featured the unveiling of a monument at the Cramton Bowl, that was later placed in the grave site of Williams. The ceremony featured Ferlin Husky interpreting "I Saw the Light".[70]
Williams had 11 number one hits in his career ("Lovesick Blues," "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," "Why Don't You Love Me," "Moanin' the Blues," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive," "Kaw-Liga," "Your Cheatin' Heart," and "Take These Chains from My Heart"), as well as many other top ten hits.[71]
In 1961, Williams was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and he was inducted in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1987, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame under the category Early Influence. He was ranked second in CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003, behind only Johnny Cash. His son, Hank Jr., was ranked on the same list. In 2004 Rolling Stone ranked him number 74 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The website Acclaimedmusic, which collates recommendations of albums and recording artists, has a year-by-year recommendation for top artists. Hank Williams is ranked first for the decade 1940–1949 for his song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Many rock and roll pioneers of the 1950s, such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded Williams songs early in their careers.
I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You smiled when your heart told you to weep
You tried to pretend that you were happy
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep
You gave the best years of your life dear
And each precious vow you tried to keep
I love you so much I want you happy
Your heart is yearning for an old love
With new love its useless to compete
It hurts me to know you are unhappy
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep
You know that you are free to go dear
And don't mind if I start to weep
I know I can never make you happy
Cause last night I heard you crying in your sleep
The lyrics of Hank Williams's song, "I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep," depict a heart-wrenching account of a troubled relationship between two people in love. The singer acknowledges how the person he loves has tried to love him to the best of their abilities but couldn't hide their sadness from him. Despite their efforts to appear content, he is aware of the pain that weighs heavy on their heart. The phrase "You smiled when your heart told you to weep" emphasizes the emotional struggle of someone trying to maintain a relationship while hiding their true feelings.
The singer shows an understanding of their lover's pain, acknowledging the precious vows they made and the years they invested in the relationship. The phrase "Your heart is yearning for an old love, with new love its useless to compete" suggests that the person he loves is still attached to someone else from their past, making it difficult for them to find happiness with someone new. He is hurt by knowing that they are unhappy, but the line "I love you so much I want you happy" shows his selflessness and desire for his lover's well-being, even if it means letting them go.
Overall, "I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep" is a poignant tale of a relationship that falters despite best intentions. The lyrics carry a sense of sorrow and resignation, as the singer comes to terms with the painful reality of a love that is not meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you tried your best to love me
You did your best to love me, but it still wasn't enough.
You smiled when your heart told you to weep
You pretended to be happy even though you were truly sad inside.
You tried to pretend that you were happy
You made an effort to hide your sorrow and put on a front of happiness.
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep
I know you're truly unhappy because I heard you crying in your sleep.
You gave the best years of your life dear
You devoted your best years to me.
And each precious vow you tried to keep
You tried hard to keep the promises you made to me.
I love you so much I want you happy
I care about you so much that your happiness means everything to me.
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep
But I know you're not happy because I heard you crying in your sleep.
Your heart is yearning for an old love
You're still longing for someone from your past.
With new love it's useless to compete
It's impossible for me to compete with your old love.
It hurts me to know you are unhappy
It pains me to know that you're not happy.
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep
But I know for sure that you're unhappy because I heard you crying in your sleep.
You know that you are free to go dear
You have the freedom to leave me if you want.
And don't mind if I start to weep
And I won't hold back my tears if you do choose to leave.
I know I can never make you happy
I understand that I can't be the one to bring you happiness.
Cause last night I heard you crying in your sleep
Because I heard you crying in your sleep, I know for sure that you're not happy with me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pankaj Chauhan
I know you tried your best to love me
You smiled when your heart told you to weep
You tried to pretend that you were happy
But last night I heard you crying in yur sleep.
You gave the best years of your life dear
And each precious vow you tried to keep
I love you so much I want you happy
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
Your heart is yearning for an old love
With new love it's useless to compete
It hurts me to know you are unhappy
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
You know that you are free to go dear
And don't mind if I start to weep
I know I can never make you happy
'Cause last night I heard you crying in your sleep...
JR
A great song!!! I love it
Betty Logan
I will always love the music of hank Williams Sr
Thomas Brewer
One of my favorites of Hanks love his music
Pankaj Chauhan
I know you tried your best to love me
You smiled when your heart told you to weep
You tried to pretend that you were happy
But last night I heard you crying in yur sleep.
You gave the best years of your life dear
And each precious vow you tried to keep
I love you so much I want you happy
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
Your heart is yearning for an old love
With new love it's useless to compete
It hurts me to know you are unhappy
But last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
You know that you are free to go dear
And don't mind if I start to weep
I know I can never make you happy
'Cause last night I heard you crying in your sleep...
Antonio Navarrete
Thanks a lot
Mary Francis
What a wonderful song and so true perfectly said last night l you crying in your sleep that's me love that song 🎵 ❤ ♥ 💕 💙
Flalle Fyhr
"People don't write music. It's given to you; you sit there and wait and it comes to you. If a song takes longer than thirty minutes or an hour, I usually throw it away”.
— — Hank Williams
Bob Harris
First recorded April 1947. Tommy Jackson, fiddle, Dale "Smokey"Luhman, steel, Zeke Turner, lead guitar, Louis Innis, rhythm guitar, Brownie Reynolds, bass. Does not show who wrote it, but I'd guess, Hank.
Extreme BP
Soo much better than shitty English songs today.
Sonny Cee Playlist
❤