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.
Baby We're Really In Love
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, we're really in love
If you're happy with me like I'm happy with you
Old cupid just gave us a shove
If you're thinkin' of me like I'm thinkin' of you
Then I know what you're thinkin' of
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
I run around in circles
And turn in fire alarms
I'm nutty as a fruitcake
When you're not in my arms
If you're meant for me like I'm meant for you
Baby, we fit like a glove
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
If you're countin' on me like I'm countin' on you
Old cupid just gave us a shove
If you're dreamin' of me like I'm dreamin' of you
Then I know what you're dreamin' of
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
My folks think I've gone crazy
And I don't feel too sure
And yet there's nothin' wrong with me
That weddin' bells won't cure
If you go for me like I go for you
Baby, we fit like a glove
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
In "Baby We're Really in Love," Hank Williams is expressing the idea that if their love is reciprocated in the same way, then they are truly, deeply in love. He uses different similes and metaphors to exemplify the intensity of his feelings towards his lover. For example, he describes himself as "nutty as a fruitcake" when his lover is not around, and he runs around in circles and turns in fire alarms. The chorus reiterates that their love is genuine as long as it is mutual. The last part of the song implies that even though the rest of the world may view their feelings as irrational or frantic, as long as they accept each other, everything else will fall into place, leading to a joyful, peaceful love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
If you reciprocate my love towards you, then our love is real
If you're happy with me like I'm happy with you
Old cupid just gave us a shove
If we both are happy with each other, it means that cupid's arrow has struck us
If you're thinkin' of me like I'm thinkin' of you
Then I know what you're thinkin' of
If you're thinking of me the way I'm thinking of you, I know it's of love
I run around in circles
And turn in fire alarms
I'm nutty as a fruitcake
When you're not in my arms
I feel restless and anxious when you're not with me because I love you so much
If you're meant for me like I'm meant for you
Baby, we fit like a glove
If we're meant to be together, then we fit perfectly like a glove
If you're countin' on me like I'm countin' on you
Old cupid just gave us a shove
If we both rely on each other, it means our love is meant to be
If you're dreamin' of me like I'm dreamin' of you
Then I know what you're dreamin' of
If you're dreaming of me like I dream of you, I know it's of love
My folks think I've gone crazy
And I don't feel too sure
And yet there's nothin' wrong with me
That weddin' bells won't cure
My family thinks I'm crazy, and I'm not sure of everything, but marrying you will make everything better
If you go for me like I go for you
Baby, we fit like a glove
If we both go for each other, we fit perfectly like a glove
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bluedream17w
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
If you're happy with me like I'm happy with you
Old cupid just gave us a shove
If you're thinkin' of me like I'm thinkin' of you
Then I know what you're thinkin' of
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
I run around in circles
And turn in fire alarms
I'm nutty as a fruitcake
When you're not in my arms
If you're meant for me like I'm meant for you
Baby, we fit like a glove
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
If you're countin' on me like I'm countin' on you
Old cupid just gave us a shove
If you're dreamin' of me like I'm dreamin' of you
Then I know what you're dreamin' of
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
My folks think I've gone crazy
And I don't feel too sure
And yet there's nothin' wrong with me
That weddin' bells won't cure
If you go for me like I go for you
Baby, we fit like a glove
If you're lovin' me like I'm lovin' you
Baby, we're really in love
@spacycakes
“I’m nutty as a fruitcake when you’re not in my arms”
That is the cutest thing I’ve heard
@duckysmitty6612
This will be the first song played at our wedding. 🤗❤🤠 Rip awesome Hank Williams Sr
@scottedmondson2182
I was raised on his music. My daddy played his 8 Tracks every where we went.
I’ll bet I can recite ever word he sings.
@ysidrotorres693
Grew up on hank. I’m Hispanic but grew up on a farm and riding horses. Hank brings back good memories.
@2Fa2Bu
hank sr. has nothing but great songs
@markmarkofkane8167
Hank Sr. is my fav. Hank Jr. is pretty good, especially the early
stuff when he sang his dad's songs.
@tracycallis156
The GREATEST then, the GREATEST still !!!
@AHEAVYMETALCHRISTIAN
i love how he has such a country voice.it goes good with this song
@shaunelijah3214
Hank Sr and the Hag, the 2 greatest of all time as far as I'm concerned...
@micheleholman3421
George Jones is the best