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.
Heaven Holds All My Treasures
Hank Williams Lyrics
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And all of the things they will buy
But all of my hopes for treasures
Are away beyond the skies
Heaven holds all my treasures
More precious than diamonds and gold
Up there I'll meet my darlin'
In this world, I'm just a drifter
I know nothing but sorrow
But to me somehow it don't matter
For I know she's waiting up there
Heaven holds all my treasures
More precious than diamonds and gold
Up there I'll meet my darlin'
Whom God has called back to the fold
I stand on the banks of the river
And I stare at the water so deep
And think of my darlin'
Then I bow my head and weep
Heaven holds all my treasures
More precious than diamonds and gold
Up there I'll meet my darlin'
Whom God has called back to the fold
The lyrics of Hank Williams's song Heaven Holds All My Treasures express a deeply held belief in the power of faith and the afterlife. The singer acknowledges that while some people may seek riches and material possessions in this life, all of their treasures are actually beyond the skies, in heaven. The singer struggles with feelings of sorrow and displacement in this world, but takes solace in the fact that his loved one has been called back to the fold, suggesting a belief in the resurrection and meeting loved ones after death. This heavenly reunion is described as being more precious than any worldly riches, and the singer finds comfort in knowing that his beloved awaits him in the afterlife.
The song is a testament to the power of faith in times of grief and loss. By recognizing that his loved one is in a better place and that he will one day be reunited with her, the singer is able to find hope and comfort in the face of his sorrow. The lyrics also suggest a broader message about the transience of earthly material possessions, and the ultimate futility of seeking happiness solely through wealth and material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people struggle for riches
There are people who work hard to acquire material wealth.
And all of the things they will buy
They hope to obtain all the physical stuff they can buy with their wealth.
But all of my hopes for treasures
In contrast, I don't wish for material possessions.
Are away beyond the skies
Rather, my hopes and aspirations are towards spiritual treasures that can only be found in the afterlife.
Heaven holds all my treasures
I believe that Heaven is where I'll find the things I truly value.
More precious than diamonds and gold
The things I hold dear cannot be bought with money or earthly possessions.
Up there I'll meet my darlin'
I trust that I'll be reunited with my loved one in Heaven.
Whom God has called back to the fold
She has been taken away from this world and returned to the arms of God.
In this world, I'm just a drifter
I feel like I'm just passing through this life without direction or purpose.
I know nothing but sorrow
The only emotion that seems to dominate my life is sadness.
But to me somehow it don't matter
Yet, I don't feel overwhelmed by this feeling of despair because I know that my loved one is waiting for me in Heaven.
For I know she's waiting up there
And that knowledge gives me comfort and hope.
I stand on the banks of the river
When I'm faced with the emptiness of my life, I find myself by the water's edge.
And I stare at the water so deep
I contemplate the depths of the river, perhaps symbolically representing the unknown depths of life itself.
And think of my darlin'
My thoughts immediately turn to my beloved who is no longer with me on this earth.
Then I bow my head and weep
The weight of my sorrow becomes too much to bear and I cry.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAMS, SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind