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 Ain't Got Nothin' but Time
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you got no place to go
Just give me a ring
Some joy I will bring
'Cause I ain't got nothin' but time.
Well, I ain't got nothin' but time
So baby, if you wanna shine
My number's in the book
And you can call me any time.
I'm footloose and I'm fancy free
So baby, just come along with me
Grab your dancin' shoes
We'll go and lose them blues
'Cause I ain't got nothin' but time.
If you say so babe, we'll stay all night
Don't worry, 'cause I ain't got no wife
Any time you wanna go
Good gal, just let me know
'Cause I ain't got nothin' but time.
No use to sit at home and fine
And let someone trouble your mind
Just come along with me
There's more fish in the sea
And I ain't got nothin' but time.
Now baby, just come on and smile
You'll find that life is still worth while
If you just look around
And watch the fellars in this town
That for you ain't got nothin' but time.
Lord, I ain't got nothin' but time
So baby, if you wants to shine
If you take time to look
My number's in the book
And you can call me any time...
Hank Williams's song "I Ain't Got Nothin' but Time" is a lively tune that speaks about the singer's carefree approach to life. The song is a lover's invitation to a woman who seems to be feeling low and has nowhere to go, and the singer promises to bring joy and companionship into her life. As the title suggests, the singer is a free-spirited person who has no qualms about spending time with the woman if that's what she desires. The lyrics encourage the woman to come out of her shell, put on her dancing shoes, and enjoy a night on the town with the singer.
The song's lyrics also suggest that the singer is unattached and eagerly waiting for a companion to spend time with. He is confident that there is more to life than sitting at home and worrying about one's troubles, and he invites the woman to come out and discover what the town has to offer. The singer's upbeat and positive attitude towards life encourages the woman to smile and believe that life is still worth living. The song's tone is light-hearted, and the lyrics reflect an optimistic outlook on life that is contagious.
Overall, "I Ain't Got Nothin' but Time" is a song about enjoying life and seizing the moment. The song's lyrics encourage the listener to be open to new experiences, put aside their worries, and take a chance on life. The singer's carefree approach to life, coupled with Hank Williams's upbeat melody, makes this song a classic that still resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl, if you're feeling low
If you are feeling down,
And you got no place to go
And have nowhere to go,
Just give me a ring, some joy I will bring
Just call me and I'll bring you some joy,
'Cause I ain't got nothin' but time
Because I have nothing but time.
Well, I ain't got nothin' but time
I don't have anything except time,
So baby, if you wanna shine
So if you want to have a good time,
If you take time to look, my number's in the book
If you look in the phone book, you'll find my number,
And you can call me any time
And you can call me whenever you want.
I'm footloose and I'm fancy free
I don't have any responsibilities and I am carefree,
So baby, just come along with me
So come with me,
Grab your dancin' shoes, we'll go and lose them blues
Put on your dancing shoes, we'll go out and forget our problems,
'Cause I ain't got nothin' but time
Because I don't have anything except time.
If you say so babe, we'll stay all night
If you want, we can stay out all night,
Don't worry, 'cause I ain't got no wife
Don't worry, I am not married,
Any time you wanna go, good gal, just let me know
Whenever you want to leave, just tell me,
'Cause I ain't got nothin' but time
Because I don't have anything except time.
No use to sit at home and fine
There is no point in sitting at home and being sad,
And let someone trouble your mind
And letting someone bother you,
Just come along with me, there's more fish in the sea
Come with me, there are plenty of other people out there,
And I ain't got nothin' but time
And I don't have anything except time.
Now baby, just come on and smile
Now come on and smile,
You'll find that life is still worth while
You will see that life is still good,
If you just look around and watch the fellars in this town
If you look around and see the guys in this town,
That for you ain't got nothin' but time
Who have nothing else but time for you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Johnson
Massive fan, but must have missed this one entirely... brilliant track!
Colin Purssey
Looked at the lyrics,then listened to the song structure, melody, and arrangement, and it's just simply a winning formula ! All class.
David E. Gabert
Time heals many things...we have an eternity, with the Lord! d
mr. warmth
+Roger Huff cant comment he tells you everything
Roger Huff
+David E. Gabert amen god bless you
Paddy Cummins
Think I'll be sappy and sing this at the next house party myself and this certain young one are at. Thanks Hank ;-)
William Walker
Why do all the ads on this Hank Williams playlist deal with "awesome technology" and various tech companies? Is Hank popular with computer engineers?
Will Taplin
7 years late to the party, but I'm a computer programmer and I love Hank Sr, and real country music. It's just another way to make a living and provide. I'm just flesh and blood that loves to throw on a Hank record at the end day. But, you have a point. Not all computer engineers have taste.
Dylan Rinck
I'm a computer engineer and he is a favorite of mine.
mr. warmth
he played till 1953