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.
A House Of Gold
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For wealth and what it will buy
But don't they know on the Judgment Day
All the gold and silver will melt away
And know that my poor soul was saved
Than to live in this world in a house of gold
And deny my God and doom my soul
What good is gold and silver too
If your heart's not good and true
Sinner hear me when I say
Fall down on your knees and pray
For I'd rather be in a deep dark grave
And know that my poor soul was saved
Than to live in this world in a house of gold
And deny my God and doom my soul
Than to live in this world in a house of gold
And deny my God and doom my soul
In 'A House of Gold', Hank Williams Jr. brings forth a critique of wealth and materialistic pursuits. He allows us to ponder over the fact that in contemporary society, people tend to focus too much on acquisition and accumulation of wealth and further act dishonestly to gain more of it. Instead, he propounds that in the afterlife, worldly possessions like gold and silver will have no value and that it's important to lead a life that is pure, honest, and in line with God's will. He asserts that it's better to live a life of poverty but adhere to our spiritual and moral values and earn salvation.
In the second verse, Williams stresses that material wealth is futile without a good, true heart. He calls out to sinners saying that falling down to pray on our knees and seeking redemption is more worthwhile than living a life of luxury that compromises and denies our faith. He reiterates that he'd rather live and die in poverty with God in his heart than in a house of gold without faith.
Overall, the song speaks about the transience of wealth, while highlighting the importance of faith and treating our fellow humans with kindness and honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
People steal, they cheat, they lie
Individuals commit dishonest acts to acquire wealth and possessions
For wealth and what it will buy
These acts are driven by a desire for material possessions
But don't they know on the Judgment Day
There will be consequences for one's actions on the day of judgement
All the gold and silver will melt away
Material wealth will hold no value or worth on that day
I'd rather be in a deep dark grave
The artist would prefer death over a life of sin and wealth
And know that my poor soul was saved
They value their spiritual wellbeing over material wealth
Than to live in this world in a house of gold
They would rather live modestly and righteously than in a life of luxury and sin
And deny my God and doom my soul
They believe that denying their faith and giving in to sin leads to spiritual ruin
What good is gold and silver too
Material wealth offers no true value or benefit without moral righteousness
If your heart's not good and true
Moral virtue is more important than wealth
Sinner hear me when I say
The singer urges those who have strayed from righteousness to listen
Fall down on your knees and pray
They believe that turning to prayer can help one seek redemption
Than to live in this world in a house of gold
Once again, the singer values modesty and righteousness over material luxury
And deny my God and doom my soul
They reiterate that denying one's faith and giving in to sin leads to spiritual damnation
Than to live in this world in a house of gold
The final line restates the importance of spiritual wellbeing over material wealth and possessions
And deny my God and doom my soul
The consequences of abandoning faith and embracing sin are emphasized once more
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thomasmonholland115
My papaw used to sing this song and had so much anointing behind his singing! He’s with Jesus now and I have so much Joy hearing this song. Hank sure was led by God on this one! I never heard the last two verses before but they are so true!!! World wake up and accept Jesus He can heal you and help you
@TheDewayne69er
Buddy I wish I could listen to some Hank or Cash or Johnny Horton with my papaw one more time I'd do just about anything for it I miss him so much and Im so blessed my papaw introduced me to such amazing talented men like Hank God truly blessed me with such amazing grandparents
@coreanrigsby5461
Hank sang the truth you have to live it to sing about life
@redmorton427
Sounds like how my papaw is..He still sings this..and I cry.
@burnychaplin4601
Yeah this one could be considered gospel instead of country
@glennhiggins9297
When I sing to my grandkids they cry too I think it hurts their ears
@joehoward2255
You can't beat this, Hank williams sr. Is my all time favorite singer. I used to stay up late just to hear Hank sing on the GRAND OLE OPRY
@rayluther6858
I still listen to Hank Williams
@rayluther6858
Hank Williams preached and sang as luck the drifter
@rayluther6858
Like the drifter