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.
Dear John
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well when i woke up this mornin',
There was a note upon my door,
Said don't make me no coffee babe,
'cause i won't be back no more,
And that's all she wrote, dear john,
I've sent your saddle home.
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale,
Daniel in the lion's den,
But i know a guy that didn't try to get along,
And he won't get a chance again,
And that's all she wrote, dear john,
I've fetched your saddle home.
Now she didn't forward no address,
Nor she didn't say goodbye,
All she said was if you get blue,
Just hang your little head and cry,
And that's all she wrote, dear john,
I've sent your saddle home.
Now my gal's short and stubby,
She's strong as she can be,
But if that little old gal of mine,
Ever get's a-hold of me,
That's all she wrote, dear john,
I've sent your saddle home.
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale,
Daniel in the lion's den,
But i know a man that didn't try to get along,
And he won't get a chance again,
And that's all she wrote, dear john,I've fetched your saddle home.
Now i went down to the bank this morning,
The cashier said with a grin,
I feel so sorry for you hank,
But your wife has done been in,
And that's all she wrote, dear john,
I've sent your saddle home.
The song "Dear John" by Hank Williams tells the story of a man waking up to find a note on his door from his wife, telling him not to make her coffee because she won't be coming back to him. She didn't leave any address, just telling him to cry if he feels blue. The chorus of the song repeats the line "That's all she wrote (dear John), I've sent your saddle home," indicating that the relationship is over and she has moved on.
The verse that mentions Jonah and Daniel further emphasizes the idea of being trapped in a situation, much like those biblical figures, and the need to try to get along or make the best of it. However, the singer of the song, unlike them, didn't put in any effort to make his relationship work and has lost his chance. The final verse introduces the idea of the man's wife having gone to the bank, indicating that she has moved on and may have even taken some of his possessions or money.
In summary, "Dear John" is a song about the end of a relationship due to the man's lack of effort and the woman's decision to move on. The use of biblical references adds depth to the theme of being trapped in a situation and the need to try to make it work.
Line by Line Meaning
Well when I woke up this mornin',
There was a note upon my door
Said "don't make me no coffee babe
'Cause I won't be back no more"
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
As soon as I woke up, I found a letter on my doorstep. It said that my lover, who referred to me as "dear John" in the note, wouldn't be coming back and didn't want me to make her coffee. She even sent my saddle home.
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale
Daniel in the lion's den
But I know a guy that didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've fetched your saddle home
Jonah and Daniel survived their trials, but I know someone who didn't and won't get a second chance. My lover, who called me "dear John" in her letter, even went as far as to send my saddle home.
Now, she didn't forward no address
Nor she didn't say goodbye
All she said was "if you get blue
Just hang your little head and cry"
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
My lover, who addressed me as "dear John" in her letter, didn't give me any way to contact her, nor did she say goodbye. The only comfort she offered me was to cry when I feel down. She even sent my saddle home.
Now my gal's short and stubby
She's strong as she can be
But if that little old gal of mine
Ever get's ahold of me
That's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
My lover, who addressed me as "dear John" in her letter, might be short and small, but she's still powerful. If she gets ahold of me, I might as well say goodbye because she's done with me. She even went the extra step of returning my saddle home.
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale
Daniel in the lion's den
But I know a man that didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've fetched your saddle home
Even though Jonah and Daniel managed to survive their situations, I know someone who didn't and won't ever get another chance. My lover, who addressed me as "dear John" in her letter, even took it upon herself to return my saddle home.
Now I went down to the bank this morning
The cashier said with a grin
"I feel so sorry for you, Hank
But your wife has done been in"
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
I went to the bank and was informed by the cashier that my wife, who referred to me as "dear John" in her letter, had already been there. The cashier pitied me for what had happened, and my wife had even taken the time to send my saddle home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AUBREY A. GASS, TEX RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TM-ky7kn
Well when I woke up this mornin'
There was a note upon my door
It said don't make me no coffee babe
'Cause I won't be home no more
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale
Daniel in the lion's den
But I know a man, he didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
No, she didn't forward no address
She didn't say goodbye
All she said was if you get blue
Just hang your little head and cry
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
Now my gal's short and stubby
She's strong as she can be
And if that little old gal of mine
Ever gets a-hold of me
That'll be all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale
Daniel in the lion's den
But I know a man, he didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
And that's all she wrote (dear John)
I've sent your saddle home
Now I went down to the bank this morning
The cashier said with a grin
I feel so sorry for you Hank
But your wife has done been in
And that was all she wrote (dear John)
I've fetched your saddle home
I've sent your saddle home
Sent your saddle home, ain't got no horse but got the saddle
Got the saddle
@rody692
Well when I woke up this mornin',
There was a note upon my door,
Said don't make me no coffee Babe,
'cause I won't be back no more,
And that's all she wrote, Dear John,
I've sent your saddle home.
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale,
Daniel in the lion's den,
But I know a guy that didn't try to get along,
And he won't get a chance again,
And that's all she wrote, Dear John,
I've fetched your saddle home.
Well she didn't forward no address,
Nor she didn't say goodbye,
All she said was if you get blue,
Just hang your little head and cry,
And that's all she wrote, Dear John,
I've sent your saddle home.
Now my gal's short and stubby,
She's strong as she can be,
But if that little old gal of mine,
Ever get's a-hold of me,
That's all she wrote, Dear John,
I've sent your saddle home.
Now Jonah got along in the belly of the whale,
Daniel in the lion's den,
But I know a man that didn't try to get along,
And he won't get a chance again,
And that's all she wrote, Dear John,
I've fetched your saddle home.
Now I went down to the bank this morning,
The cashier said with a grin,
I feel so sorry for you Hank,
But your wife has done been in,
And that's all she wrote, Dear John,
I've sent your saddle home
@pikkdogs
Literally woke up to the girlfriend breaking up with me this morning. At least I can relate to old Hank.
@ronkelley1490
pikkdogs Im sorry to hear that. I hope until it gets better this music gives you some peace about it
@robertcollette9726
Then it was ment to be that way
@stratkiller86
my pa kept his saving from being drained by the ex-wife thanks to this song.
@richarddavis8863
Next time you're in a rocky relationship, make sure you break it off first. It takes some of the sting away
@michaelozmanski9321
There's a Hank Williams song for every situation and everybody !!
@sasca854
And time marches on...
@BLOODY__FATALITY
Time marches on...
@MicahKlausing
Time marches on…
@jeremykean285
i can only imagine the music he could have made if he lived padt 29