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 1940β1949 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.
Dixie Cannonball
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's the place I long to be,
Where the cotton grows and the suwanee flows,
That's home sweet home to me,
Where they meet you and they greet you,
With the sweetest how you are,
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south,
On the dixie cannon- ball
On the dixie cannonball, on the dixie cannonball,
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all,
And I know there's some one waitin', with the sweetest how you are,
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south, on the dixie cannonball
When I cross them smokey mountains. I'll be countin' every mile,
When the whistle blows, I'll be on my toes,
And I'll shuffle down the aisle,
And I know I'll not be lonesome,
When I see them treetops tall,
On the dixie cannonball
On the dixie cannonball, on the dixie cannonball,
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all,
And I know there's some one waitin', with the sweetest how you are,
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south, on the dixie cannonball
Yes, I'm goin' back to dixie, that's the place I long to be,
Where the cotton grows and the suwanee flows,
That's home sweet home to me,
Where they meet you and they greet you,
With the sweetest how you are,
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south,
On the dixie cannon- ball
On the dixie cannonball, on the dixie cannonball,
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all,
And I know there's some one waitin', with the sweetest how you are,
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south, on the dixie cannonball
In Dixie Cannonball, Hank Williams sings about his yearning for home. He wishes to return back to the south where he belongs. He speaks of the cotton fields and the Suwannee river, and how it feels like home sweet home to him. Williams emphasizes on the southern hospitality, how people greet and meet with each other with the sweetest how you are. The song is written with a touch of nostalgia, it depicts Williams' affection towards his roots. The song is also about the train journey from the north to the south, he speaks of the excitement of traveling on a train, viewing the Smokey Mountains, counting every mile as the whistle blows. It's almost like he's on a mission to reclaim his southern identity. The song ends with Williams coming back to where he belongs and fulfilling his desire, which was long overdue.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a'headin' back to dixie,
I am traveling to the southern United States where I wish to be.
That's the place I long to be,
That region is where I wish to reside.
Where the cotton grows and the suwanee flows,
It is an area where there is an abundance of cotton fields and a river named Suwannee that forms the border between Georgia and Florida.
That's home sweet home to me,
That place is where I feel a sense of belonging.
Where they meet you and they greet you,
People in the area are welcoming and friendly.
With the sweetest how you are,
The locals extend genuine and warm greetings.
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south,
I am delighted to be traveling in the southern direction.
On the dixie cannon-ball
I am on a train called the Dixie Cannonball.
When the whistle blows, I'll be on my toes,
When the train whistle sounds, I'll be alert and ready to disembark.
And I'll shuffle down the aisle,
I will make my way through the train cabin.
And I know I'll not be lonesome,
I am confident that I will not be lonely.
When I see them treetops tall,
I will feel content when I see the tall trees in the area.
Yes, I'm goin' back to dixie,
I am returning to the southern United States.
On the dixie cannon- ball
I am still on the Dixie Cannonball train.
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all,
The sound of the Dixie Cannonball's whistle is exciting and enjoyable.
And I know there's someone waitin', with the sweetest how you are,
I am certain that there is someone in the area who will give me a warm greeting.
Well shut my mouth, I'm a'headin' south,
I am thrilled to be going in the southern direction.
On the dixie cannonball
I am still on the Dixie Cannonball train.
Contributed by Liam I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SEYMOURTUCHAS
Never heard this Hank Williams song until today. Another Gem by the Hank!
@georgebeattie9056
I'm so glad I bought the album, the lonesome sound of hank williams in 1958 and glad to have so much pleasure in every track Including this classic,
@CO84trucker
I'll be traveling to Poland (one of my ancestral homelands) this coming spring. My plan is to fly into Frankfurt then make my way to Warsaw by train with a stopover in Berlin. To paraphrase Hank I, "When I cross the Odra River (π©πͺπ΅π± border) I'll be counting every mile... on the Berlin-Warsawa-Express!"
@MichaelSmith-yp4vv
Such an awesome song! Long live Hank Williams and long Live Hank's Music!!
@rtovar2703
I had forgotten about this song! My mother's name was Dixie Cannon! Love this!
@ICU2HI
God Bless Dixie Cannon!
@randallhutchcraft4039
New to me,WOW, thought I had heard all of his songs.
@robenking1918
the late and great hank wiliams s r no one can take his place love u hank here on the rock of nl canada R I P hank
@livemummys
Another Great Train song by Hank β« β« β« β« β« β« Thanks for all you share :)
@Rustbelt_Research
I agree with the below comments.. Nobody sings this better than 'ole Hank himself!