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.
Lovesick Blues
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since my baby said goodbye
Lord, I don't know what I'll do
All I do is sit and sigh, oh, Lord
That last long day she said goodbye
Well, Lord, I thought I would cry
She'll do me, she'll do you, she's got that kind of lovin'
Such a beautiful dream
I hate to think it all over, I've lost my heart it seems
I've grown so used to you somehow
Well, I'm nobody's sugar daddy now
And I'm lonesome, I got the lovesick blues
Well, I'm in love, I'm in love, with a beautiful gal
That's what's the matter with me
Well, I'm in love, I'm in love, with a beautiful gal
But she don't care about me
Lord, I tried and I tried, to keep her satisfied
But she just wouldn't stay
So now that she is leavin'
This is all I can say
I got a feelin' called the blues, oh, Lord
Since my baby said goodbye
Lord, I don't know what I'll do
All I do is sit and sigh, oh, Lord
That last long day she said goodbye
Well, Lord, I thought I would cry
She'll do me, she'll do you, she's got that kind of lovin'
Lord, I love to hear her when she calls me sweet daddy
Such a beautiful dream
I hate to think it all over, I've lost my heart it seems
I've grown so used to you somehow
Lord, I'm nobody's sugar daddy now
And I'm lonesome, I got the lovesick blues
The lyrics of Hank Williams Jr.'s Lovesick Blues describe the pain and heartache that comes with a breakup. The singer’s lover left him, and he is left feeling the blues. He tries to find solace by sitting and sighing, but his thoughts keep returning to his lost love. He is reminded of the last day they were together, and he thought he would cry. He can’t help but love her, and he remembers how good it felt when she called him “sweet daddy.” He is trapped in a beautiful dream and can't bear to think of life without his lover. He has grown so used to her that he feels lonely and without purpose now that she's gone. The song portrays a sense of loneliness and heartbreak, leaving the singer feeling lovesick and lost.
To add some context to Lovesick Blues, the song was written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills in 1922, and it was later covered by numerous artists, including Hank Williams in 1949. Williams's version was a commercial success and became one of his signature songs. The song was later covered by a variety of artists and was featured in the movie The Blues Brothers. Interestingly, it was also one of the first songs performed by Elvis Presley when he auditioned at Sun Records in Memphis in 1954.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a feelin' called the blues, oh, Lord
I am feeling sad and emotionally overwhelmed
Since my baby said goodbye
Ever since my partner left me
Lord, I don't know what I'll do
I don't know how to cope with the pain
All I do is sit and sigh, oh, Lord
All I can do is sit around feeling miserable
That last long day she said goodbye
The day my partner left me
Well, Lord, I thought I would cry
I was so sad, I didn't think I could hold back tears
She'll do me, she'll do you, she's got that kind of lovin'
My ex-partner has a way of charming and seducing people
Lord, I love to hear her when she calls me sweet daddy
I used to feel happy and loved when my partner called me affectionately
Such a beautiful dream
Being with my partner was like living in a wonderful dream
I hate to think it all over, I've lost my heart it seems
I can't bear the thought of the relationship being over, it feels like I've lost a part of myself
I've grown so used to you somehow
I had become comfortable and familiar with being with my partner
Well, I'm nobody's sugar daddy now
I'm not anybody's provider or supporter anymore
And I'm lonesome, I got the lovesick blues
I feel lonely and depressed because of my heartache
Well, I'm in love, I'm in love, with a beautiful gal
I'm currently infatuated with an attractive woman
That's what's the matter with me
That's the reason behind my current emotional state
But she don't care about me
However, my feelings aren't reciprocated, and the woman doesn't show any interest in me
Lord, I tried and I tried, to keep her satisfied
I did everything I could to make her happy
But she just wouldn't stay
But despite my efforts, she decided to leave
So now that she is leavin',
Since she is departing
This is all I can say
I only have these few words to express my feelings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Cliff Friend, Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind