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.
Long Gone Lonesome Blues
Hank Williams Lyrics
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But I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die, Oh Lord!
And then I jumped in the river, but the doggone river was dry
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue
I had me a woman who couldn't be true
She made me for my money and she made me blue
A man needs a woman that he can lean on
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue
I'm gonna find me a river, one that's cold as ice
And when I find me that river, Lord I'm gonna pay the price, Oh Lord!
I'm goin' down in it three times, but Lord I'm only comin' up twice
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue
She told me on Sunday she was checkin' me out
Long about Monday she was nowhere about
And here it is Tuesday, ain't had no news
I got them gone but not forgotten blues
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue
The Hank Williams Jr. song Long Gone Lonesome Blues laments a lost love that has left the singer feeling lonely and helpless. The lyrics conjure up a powerful image of a man standing on the riverbank, watching the fish swim by, feeling the weight of his loneliness so heavy that he wants to die. This is a man who has lost everything he had in life, including his woman, and now even the river has let him down by being dry when he needs it the most. The song's chorus, "She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue," encapsulates the singer's feeling of complete abandonment and sadness.
The second stanza paints a picture of a woman who has betrayed the singer for his money, leaving him without a leaning post he can rely on. This is a man who is at the end of his tether, looking for a way to ease his pain. He plans to find a cold river and immerse himself in it, hoping that it will somehow bring him some kind of peace. However, he knows that he will only be able to come up for air twice, while he intends to go under the water three times, symbolizing his willingness to take whatever punishment the universe has in store for him.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the river to watch the fish swim by
I went to the river to find peace and calm.
But I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die, Oh Lord!
When I got there, my loneliness and pain took over me, making me feel like I wanted to die.
And then I jumped in the river, but the doggone river was dry
I tried to seek comfort in the river, but it did not offer any solace.
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue
The woman I loved is gone, and now I am left feeling sad and lonely.
I had me a woman who couldn't be true
I was involved with a woman who did not love me back.
She made me for my money and she made me blue
She used me for my wealth, and it left me feeling sad and depressed.
A man needs a woman that he can lean on
A man needs a supportive partner who he can rely on for emotional support.
But my leanin' post is done left and gone
However, the woman I trusted to be my support has left me.
I'm gonna find me a river, one that's cold as ice
I am going to find a cold and harsh river that matches the pain I feel inside.
And when I find me that river, Lord I'm gonna pay the price, Oh Lord!
When I do find this river, I know I will have to pay a heavy price to find peace within myself once more.
I'm goin' down in it three times, but Lord I'm only comin' up twice
I will submerge myself in the cold river three times, but I know I will only be able to survive two times.
She told me on Sunday she was checkin' me out
On Sunday, she told me she was interested in me.
Long about Monday she was nowhere about
By Monday, however, she was nowhere to be found.
And here it is Tuesday, ain't had no news
Now, it is Tuesday, and I have not heard from her.
I got them gone but not forgotten blues
I am left with the blues of memories of her and the pain of being ghosted.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind