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.
If I Didn't Love You
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'd never cry over you.
If I didn't Love You I wouldn't be jealous
'cause I wouldn't care what you do
[Chorus]
People are saying that you'll let me down
But I know someday you'll come throughIf I didn't love you I wouldn't be lonesome
Waiting and longing for you
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be pining my heart out
The way that I do
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be wondering
Who's sharing this moment with you.
[Chorus]
Time after time I have proved that I care
I've tried to be faithful and true
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be lonesome
Waiting and longing for you
Hank Williams's song "If I Didn't Love You" is a painful depiction of a lover's torment brought on by the absence of the object of their desire. In the first line of the verse, Williams declares that his being lonely proves that he loves the one he's longing for, and if he didn't love them, he wouldn't feel this pain. The line is particularly poignant as it speaks to how loving someone can sometimes bring more pain than joy. He goes on to say that if he didn't love this person, he wouldn't cry over them or be jealous of them, which shows how much he is invested in the relationship.
The chorus talks about how people are warning him that he'll be let down, but he believes that his love will come through eventually. This theme of blind faith in love is another aspect of Williams's powerful portrayal. The second verse expresses how deeply he is in love as he thrives on the mere idea of sharing a moment with the person he loves. He is prepared to move mountains for them, and even though he's done everything possible to prove his love, he still feels the pain of longing.
Williams's sentiment draws an emotional response that resonates with people from all backgrounds as it speaks to the universal experience of unrequited love. He manages to weave together the emotions of hope, despair, pain, and longing that come with being in love, all the while presenting them in the rawest way possible.
Line by Line Meaning
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be lonesome
The feeling of loneliness is only because of my love for you.
And I'd never cry over you.
My love for you leads me to shed tears for you.
If I didn't Love You I wouldn't be jealous
Jealousy is a by-product of the love I feel for you.
'cause I wouldn't care what you do
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have an emotional investment in your actions.
"People are saying that you'll let me down
Others believe you will disappoint me.
But I know someday you'll come through
I have faith in you, and that someday you will fulfill my expectations.
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be lonesome
My love for you leads me to experience loneliness.
Waiting and longing for you
My love for you leads me to anticipate your return and miss you greatly.
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be pining my heart out
Without my love for you, there would be no agony in my heart.
The way that I do
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't feel as deeply or intensely for you.
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be wondering
Curiosity and concern wouldn't exist if I didn't love you.
Who's sharing this moment with you.
I worry about who is with you because of my love for you.
Time after time I have proved that I care
I have shown my affection for you repeatedly.
I've tried to be faithful and true
My devotion to you has led me to stay committed and honest.
If I didn't love you I wouldn't be lonesome
My love for you leads me to experience loneliness.
Waiting and longing for you
My love for you leads me to anticipate your return and miss you greatly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Cross, Neal, Ross, Scott, ANDRE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jesuscasillas4992
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be lonesome
And I'd never cry over you
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be jealous
'Cause I wouldn't care what you do
People are saying that you'll let me down
But I know someday you'll come through
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be lonesome
Waiting and longing for you
Oh, honey child
If I didn't love ya, would I buy you that washtub
And that washboard?
And tell you that you could keep half of what you made off 'em?
Now, honey, you knows I love ya
I wouldn't be lonesome like I is
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be pining
My heart out the way that I do
If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be wondering
Who's sharing this moment with you
Time after time, I have proved that I care
I've tried to be faithful and true
And if I didn't love you, I wouldn't be lonesome
Just waiting and longing for you
@ellenperry1
Hank Loved The Ink Spots And Had All Their Records. This Is A Take-Off On The Ink Spots
@brandonmilburn7517
I love some hank sr
@OldCountry05
powerful words
@MrMarranitto
played this for my SO and honey loved you.
@MarinCipollina
Aw.. honey chile, If I didn't love you, would I buy you that wash tub and that wash board? and tell you that you could keep half what you make off it? Now honey, you know I love you, I wouldn't be lonesome like I is.
That part's funny, but..
Damnit Hank !!! I don't cry.
@steveendicott1855
There's just no way anybody could get away with that recitation part,today! Lol
@virginiagaylsalazar6345
But some men try. Like a new dish washer.@@steveendicott1855
@tkparrish31
That reminded me of Tompall Glaser's 'Put Another Log on the Fire'. LOL
@jamestessman1433
ouch, I guess I didn't need my heart
@johnnance4708
I do too