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.
Fool About You
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a flop-eared mule that ain't got no sense
I've been a fool about you, for way too long
I've been a fool about you, but now I'm gonna get gone
We fight and we fuss like a dog and a cat
I'll tell you right now I've had enough of that
I've been a fool about you, for way too long
Well, I said I would leave if you didn't change
Baby, it's time for me to rearrange
I've been a fool about you, for way too long
I've been a fool about you, but now I'm gonna get gone
I'm gettin' sick and tired of the same ole bull
I'll tell you right now, lord my bucket's 'bout full
I've been a fool about you, for way too long
I've been a fool about you, but now I'm gonna get gone
The lyrics to Hank Williams's song "Fool About You" paint a vivid image of someone who has been foolishly devoted to a person for far too long. The imagery of a hog rooting under a fence and a flop-eared mule with no sense in the first verse indicates that the singer has been blindly devoted to this person despite their lack of sense or reason. The second verse repeats the imagery of two fighting animals, indicating that the relationship has been tumultuous and unstable. In the chorus, the singer recognizes that they've been foolishly devoted for too long and announces their intention to leave.
The final verse suggests that the singer has attempted to change the dynamic of the relationship but has been unsuccessful. They are now fed up with the same old problems and feel that their patience has run out. The repeated line "I've been a fool about you, but now I'm gonna get gone" suggests that the singer has finally realized that their devotion has been misguided and they are ready to move on.
Overall, the song's lyrics explore the theme of misguided devotion and the difficulties of ending a tumultuous relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a hog a rootin' up under a fence
I have been persistently pursuing you, similar to a hog digging under a fence.
Like a flop-eared mule that ain't got no sense
I have been blindly devoted to you, much like a mule that does not know better because of its floppy ears.
I've been a fool about you, for way too long
I have been foolishly infatuated with you for an extended period of time.
I've been a fool about you, but now I'm gonna get gone
Although I have been foolishly interested in you, I have decided to move on from this emotional state.
We fight and we fuss like a dog and a cat
Our relationship is full of constant conflict, much like a dog and a cat's natural enmity.
I'll tell you right now I've had enough of that
I am currently experiencing a surfeit of unpleasant quarrels between us.
Well, I said I would leave if you didn't change
I have previously established that I would end our connection if you failed to make modifications to our dynamic.
Baby, it's time for me to rearrange
It is now time for me to reconfigure the situation to suit my benefit.
I'm gettin' sick and tired of the same ole bull
I am becoming weary and disillusioned by the stale and repetitive behavior in our intimacy.
I'll tell you right now, lord my bucket's 'bout full
I am at my limit and can no longer tolerate any further behavior of this nature.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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