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.
Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
buds of the flowers we love
But every bud and each blossom some day
Will bloom as a flower in the Master's bouquet
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet beautiful
flowers that will never decay
Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloomin the Master's bouquet
Loved ones are passing each day and each hour passing
away as the life of a flower
Taken and cared for in heaven's own way forever to
bloom in the Master's bouquet
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet.
..beautiful flowers that will never decay
Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloom
in the Master's bouquet
Hank Williams's Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet is a contemplative song about death and the afterlife. The opening lines of the song describe death as an angel, and although death takes away the buds and blossoms of the flowers we love, Williams suggests that those buds will bloom in the Master's bouquet. This implies that although we may lose our loved ones, they will bloom again in heaven, just like buds in a garden bloom into flowers.
The chorus of this song highlights the beauty and purity of the flowers gathered for the Master's bouquet. They are gathered by angels and carried away to bloom forever in the heavenly realm. The metaphor of flowers as human souls is a common theme in many cultures and religious traditions. It is a way of expressing the idea that death is not the end, but a continuation of life.
The final verse of the song once again refers to loved ones passing away, just like the life of a flower. However, they are taken and cared for in heaven's own way, as depicted in the gathering of flowers for the Master's bouquet. Thus, while death may seem like the end, the song offers hope that there is something beyond this life.
Line by Line Meaning
Death is an angel sent down from above sent for the buds of the flowers we love
Death is seen as an angel sent from heaven to take the buds of the flowers we love, indicating that death is a natural process.
But every bud and each blossom some day Will bloom as a flower in the Master's bouquet
Every bud and blossom will one day bloom as a flower in the bouquet of the Master of Life, implying that every life follows a cycle from birth to death.
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet beautiful flowers that will never decay Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloom in the Master's bouquet
The song describes the gathering of beautiful flowers that will never decay to make up the Master's bouquet. The flowers are gathered by angels and taken away forever to bloom in the Master's everlasting collection.
Loved ones are passing each day and each hour passing away as the life of a flower Taken and cared for in heaven's own way forever to bloom in the Master's bouquet
The song acknowledges that loved ones are passing away each day, comparing their life to a flower. However, the song also suggests that their spirits are taken and cared for in heaven's own way, with the promise of blooming forever in the Master's everlasting bouquet.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Steviemcdeviecoolie
Death is an angel sent down from above sent for the
buds of the flowers we love
But every bud and each blossom some day
Will bloom as a flower in the Master's bouquet
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet beautiful
flowers that will never decay
Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloom
in the Master's bouquet
Loved ones are passing each day and each hour passing
away as the life of a flower
Taken and cared for in heaven's own way forever to
bloom in the Master's bouquet
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet.
..beautiful flowers that will never decay
Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloom
in the Master's bouquet
@west739
MGARDNER WROTE
MAR
MARVIN BLUMGARDNER WROTE
"GATHERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER'S BOUQUET" IN 1VIN BLUM
MARVIN BLUMGARDNER WROTE
"GATHERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER'S BOUQUET" IN 1947.
GARDNER WROTE
"GATHERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER'S BOUQUET" IN 1947.
THERING FLOWERS FOR THE MASTER'S BOUQUET" IN 1947.
@bonute13
Death is an angel sent down from above sent for the buds of the flowers we love
But every bud and each blossom some day
Will bloom as a flower in the Master's bouquet
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet beautiful flowers that will never decay
Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloom in the Master's bouquet
Loved ones are passing each day and each hour passing away as the life of a flower
Taken and cared for in heaven's own way forever to bloom in the Master's bouquet
Gathering flowers for the Master's bouquet...beautiful flowers that will never decay
Gathered by angels then carried away forever to bloom in the Master's bouquet
@wmhut9593
My dad would sing this song frequently when I was a little boy. It has been a long time since, but the song came to mind just in the past week again. I had to find it on YouTube and hear it again. Makes me think of my pops as he played his guitar and sang this song in southern country style! I can still hear him singing. Dad passed away two years ago. What a great memory to remember him singing this song!
@TheDaxbaby
no one can bring a tear to your eye like Hank Williams Sr.
@dlgarrettjr9414
True true..my mama's favorite
@patsywhitehead6219
The day Hank died, my parents moved from Alabama to Colorado with me and my older brother .....I was barely 6 months old...Mom said she would always remember that day. I was raised listening to his music...and I still love it today....
@rick43able
wow your lucky
@jordan.a-zk9pg
How fortunate and lucky. I'm a huge fan of his gospel work. I always feel relieved hearing him.
@chrisbright6265
Hank Sr.sure can make the memory's come flowing in from day's long ago.💪🤠🇺🇸
@EnrichoNastyAnubianSoldier
My great uncle, Baumgardner side, wrote this song.
@PARADISE-RIVER
One thing for certain, Hank's powerful voice, in my opinion, will never be matched, forever and a day. His voice is haunting and every time I hear his voice I get a vision of what it must have been like to be back in that era sitting in a front seat and to see him, and hear him sing. I'll always believe that Hank's short time on this earth was for a special reason, one that we'll never know.
@ElbertBelt
Great song