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'll Sail My Ship Alone
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but now you say we're through,
the love we shared is now a memory.
i had built a ship of dreams
and planned them all for you,
and now,
i guess,
what is to be will be.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
i'm just like a ship at sea
that's lost without a sail,
the dark clouds hide the sun from up above.
and even with these broken dreams
my heart will never fail,
for deep inside there's only one true love.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
gave a message to the wind
to take back home to you,hoping you would hear my s.o.s.
maybe you would come back home,
my darling,
if you knew how much my aching heart
is in distress.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
The lyrics of Hank Williams's song "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" portray the story of a brokenhearted person who has been abandoned by their partner. The singer of the song and their partner have been sweethearts for a long time, but suddenly the partner decides to end their relationship. The singer had planned and built a ship of dreams for their partner and themselves, but now that they are alone, they have to sail their ship alone with all the dreams they own. The singer acknowledges the possibility that what is meant to be will be, but they are still heartbroken that their partner is not sailing with them.
The metaphor of the ship at sea without a sail emphasizes the singer's hopelessness and how they feel as if their life is aimless and they don't know where to go next. The singer says that their heart will never fail even with these broken dreams because deep inside, they still have love for their partner. However, they are blaming their partner for tearing all the sails and for their ship sinking.
The singer then talks about how they sent a message to the wind to take back home to their partner, hoping it would be an S.O.S. to bring their partner back home. The singer expresses their love and the distress they are feeling for their partner.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" are a portrayal of heartbreak and loss. The singer of the song is left alone with their dreams, trying to sail their ship across the ocean blue without their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
we've been sweethearts for so long
We've been in a romantic relationship for a significant amount of time.
but now you say we're through
However, you've recently informed me that you want to end our relationship.
the love we shared is now a memory
The love that we once shared is now only a remembrance of the past.
i had built a ship of dreams and planned them all for you
I had constructed a future full of possibilities, which I had envisioned for us and only for you.
and now, i guess, what is to be will be
At this point, I understand that there is not much I can do to change the situation, as fate will determine the outcome.
i'll sail my ship alone with all the dreams i own, drifting out across the ocean blue
I will travel through life by myself, holding onto my own aspirations, while moving through the vast and limitless unknown of existence.
i'll sail my ship alone, though all the sails you've torn, and when it starts to sink then i'll blame you
Even though you have caused damage to our shared dreams, I will continue to pursue them alone, and at the same time, hold you accountable for any setbacks that may occur.
i'm just like a ship at sea that's lost without a sail, the dark clouds hide the sun from up above
I feel like I am wandering aimlessly in life, without direction or purpose, just as a ship without a sail, only kept afloat by sheer willpower and determination, and shrouded in darkness.
and even with these broken dreams my heart will never fail, for deep inside there's only one true love
Despite the fact that my dreams are shattered, my heart will always remain committed to the one love that has been true throughout all this adversity.
gave a message to the wind to take back home to you, hoping you would hear my s.o.s
I've sent a message to the wind, hoping that it would carry my call for help to you, as a last-ditch effort to mend our relationship.
maybe you would come back home, my darling, if you knew how much my aching heart is in distress
Perhaps, if you were aware of how much I am struggling with the aftermath of our separation, you would consider returning to me, once again becoming my love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Henry Thurston, Lois Mann, Morry Burns, Henry Bernard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arkaloeugenius2134
Now, we've been sweethearts for so long
but now you say we're through,
the love we shared is just a memory.
i had built a ship of dreams
and planned them all for you,
and now, i guess, what is to be will be.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
Now i'm just like a ship at sea
that's lost without a sail,
the dark clouds hide
the sun from up above.
and even with these broken dreams
my heart will never fail,
for deep inside there's only one true love.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
I gave a message to the wind
to take back home to you,
hoping you would hear my s.o.s.
maybe you would come back home,
my darling, if you knew how much
my aching heart is in distress.
But i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
@charlesbennett2626
Who ever disliked any of Hank's songs don't like country music he was the king in the early 1950s
@capitantoad773
Charles Bennett and still is
@Terribleathletes
Not Hank's song
@peytonmarceaux8788
@@capitantoad773 m
@MichaelWipf-y8j
Sir very well said ❤
@TimRomard
If you dislike any of this man songs you were not a country music lover
@patrioticamericana3270
Great version of a real classic
@66downsizer
My fathers' FAVORITE song...............
@leonaduncan3047
I remember singing that when I was a wee girl, love all his songs 🥰💙🙏oxoxox oxoxox oxoxox oxoxox oxox
@arkaloeugenius2134
Now, we've been sweethearts for so long
but now you say we're through,
the love we shared is just a memory.
i had built a ship of dreams
and planned them all for you,
and now, i guess, what is to be will be.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
Now i'm just like a ship at sea
that's lost without a sail,
the dark clouds hide
the sun from up above.
and even with these broken dreams
my heart will never fail,
for deep inside there's only one true love.
i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.
I gave a message to the wind
to take back home to you,
hoping you would hear my s.o.s.
maybe you would come back home,
my darling, if you knew how much
my aching heart is in distress.
But i'll sail my ship alone
with all the dreams i own,
drifting out across the ocean blue.
i'll sail my ship alone,
though all the sails you've torn,
and when it starts to sink
then i'll blame you.