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.
I'd Still Want You
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And drag you right down in disgrace
But what good would it do
I know I'd still want you
I could tell the world you're doin' wrong
That I was stringin' you along
And if it all were true
This world with me might sympathize
When I got through with all my lies
But I'd be just as blue
'Cause my heart would still want you
Cry, oh, Lord
I could tell my friends I threw you down
And slander your name all over town
But what good would it do
I know I'd still want you
If I said I'm happy to be free
The only one I'd fool is me
Because it isn't true
I know I'd still want you
What's the use to say that you're no good
When I'd crawl back if I could
No matter what you do
I know I'd still want you
Cry, oh, Lord
I could smile and say that I don't care
And then go home and pull my hair
But what good would it do
I know I'd still want you
I could say that someone put me wise
And get revenge by telling lies
But when I got all through
I know I'd still want you
If the things I said was to break your heart
I'd be the first to take your part
'Cause if all these lies were true
I know I'd still want you
Cry, oh, Lord
In "I'd Still Want You," Hank Williams sings about a conflicted love he can't seem to let go of. Despite wanting to shame and slander his love interest for hurting him, he admits that he still wants them in spite of it all. The singer grapples with the reality of the situation; he acknowledges that he could tell the world his lover is doing him wrong or has been unfaithful, but he knows he would be just as heartbroken because he would still want them. Even if he said he was happy to be free, it would be a lie because he knows he would still want his lover. The singer ultimately comes to the realization that he can't change how he feels about his love interest, no matter how much they may have hurt him.
The song captures the internal struggle of trying to reconcile the desire to move on and the desire to hold on. It is a common feeling that many people can relate to; the frustration of being unable to control your emotions and desires. It's a reminder that sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, regardless of what the mind says.
Line by Line Meaning
I could shame you 'til you hide your face
I could embarrass you so much that you would be ashamed and hide your face.
And drag you right down in disgrace
I could humiliate you to the point of losing your honor.
But what good would it do
But what would be the point of it all?
I know I'd still want you
I know deep down I would still desire you.
I could tell the world you're doin' wrong
I could inform everyone that you are behaving badly.
That I was stringin' you along
That I was deceiving you all the time.
And if it all were true
If I were speaking the truth.
I know I'd still want you
I know deep down I would still desire you.
This world with me might sympathize
Other people around me might feel sorry for me.
When I got through with all my lies
After I had finished telling all my falsehoods.
But I'd be just as blue
But I would still feel sad and disheartened.
'Cause my heart would still want you
Because deep down I would still desire you.
Cry, oh, Lord
Cry out in lamentation.
I could tell my friends I threw you down
I could tell my buddies that I have let you down.
And slander your name all over town
And damage your reputation by spreading malicious statements about you throughout the area.
If I said I'm happy to be free
If I claimed that I am happy to be released from you.
The only one I'd fool is me
I would only deceive myself.
Because it isn't true
Because it is not true.
I know I'd still want you
I know deep down I would still desire you.
What's the use to say that you're no good
What is the point of saying that you are of no value?
When I'd crawl back if I could
When I would return to you on my hands and knees if I had the chance.
No matter what you do
Regardless of anything you may do.
I know I'd still want you
I know deep down I would still desire you.
Cry, oh, Lord
Cry out in lamentation.
I could smile and say that I don't care
I could grin and say that I am indifferent.
And then go home and pull my hair
And then go home and rip my hair in frustration.
I could say that someone put me wise
I could say that somebody informed me.
And get revenge by telling lies
And take revenge by telling lies.
But when I got all through
But once I reached the end.
I know I'd still want you
I know deep down I would still desire you.
If the things I said was to break your heart
If the things I said were intended to break your heart.
I'd be the first to take your part
I would be the first to conspire with you.
'Cause if all these lies were true
Because if all these falsehoods were real.
I know I'd still want you
I know deep down I would still desire you.
Cry, oh, Lord
Cry out in lamentation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAMS, SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dallas
I never started listening to Country music until this last year (my 20th year of life).I started because of Hank III and so i became curious about his grand daddy. This is some of the best music i have ever heard(i am constantly complemented on my music taste). this song in particular still rings true even in a world that is so much different than it was back in his day. I am Deeply saddened he had to die so soon in his life, and couldn't keep making masterpieces like this song
Nicholas Sparrow
Same here!
Debra Perkins
You're a Smart Man!!
ScarlettRobin
Hank sings this song like it was written for me. But that's why he was such a great singer, he was able to capture all those emotions of heartbreak and people can identify with it. This song is timeless.
Vernon Henery
this man is and always be great!!!!
Jessica Iguado
He wrote the sweetest songs about Billie Jean.
ElvisFan64
The KING of country music. HANK WILLIAMS SR
David Milby
The ONLY Hank Williams recording to have a piano take the break. I guess he or his producer figured it just wasn't his style...
jtls8
Thank you for posting your great video`s!
Randall Hutchcraft
Great song