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.
My Son Calls Another Man Daddy
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't keep the tears from my eyes
My son calls another man daddy
The right to his love I've been denied
My son calls another man daddy
He'll ne'er know my name nor my face
God only knows how it hurts me
Each night I laid there in prison
I pictured a future so bright
For he was the one ray of sunshine
That shone through the darkest of nights
Today his mother shares a new love
She just couldn't stand my disgrace
My son calls another man daddy
And longs for the love he can't replace
My son calls another man daddy
He'll ne'er know my name nor my face
God only knows how it hurts me
For another to be in my place
In Hank Williams's song, "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy," the singer is deeply saddened because his son refers to another man as his father. He feels that he has been denied the right to experience his own son's love. The singer reflects on his memories and how he once dreamed of a future with his son. However, that dream was shattered when the singer was imprisoned. Now, his son has a new stepfather in his life, and the singer cannot help but feel the pain of watching another man raise his child.
The song is heartbreaking in its simplicity. The lyrics convey the enormity of the sorrow the singer is feeling over the loss of his son's love. It is a common sense of loss that many people can relate to, as it is not uncommon for families to be separated by circumstance, choices, or actions. There is a sense of resignation in the song, as the singer has come to the realization that he cannot change the past nor take back his mistakes.
Overall, "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy," is a poignant example of Hank Williams's skill at telling a story through his music. It brings to light the raw emotion of heartbreak, regret, and longing in a way that is both relatable and moving.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight my head is bowed in sorrow
I am feeling very sad tonight
I can't keep the tears from my eyes
I am crying because I am upset
My son calls another man daddy
Someone else is in the role of being my son's father
The right to his love I've been denied
I no longer have access to my son's love
He'll ne'er know my name nor my face
My son will never know who I am
God only knows how it hurts me
This situation is causing me a great deal of pain
For another to be in my place
Someone else has taken my role as a father
Each night I laid there in prison
I spent many nights in jail
I pictured a future so bright
I imagined a hopeful future for myself and my son
For he was the one ray of sunshine
My son was the only positive thing in my life
That shone through the darkest of nights
My son brought light to my darkest moments
Today his mother shares a new love
My son's mother is with someone else now
She just couldn't stand my disgrace
She was embarrassed by my behavior
And longs for the love he can't replace
My son wants my love, but someone else is in my place
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEWELL HOUSE, HANK WILLIAMS SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gab Pinto
This man is quite possibly the most amazing human being who has ever lived. He was taken at 29 years old and he died a horrifying death. They did not cherish him in life, only to become the greatest country singer and overall story telling juggernaut legend the world will ever see. If i listen to hank i need tissues because man oh man he hits the center of my soul
Shirley Benett
Yes he does 😢
teil liet
Amen
Rene Gordon
i feel the same way my friend
Ray Moore
I love to hear old Hank.Thanks for the post.. Just amazes me at the impact this great man had on country music ! I keep thinking what an impact if he could have lived 25 years longer.He was a genius at writing songs. Miss him. R.I.P.
Sigrid Buck
HE ALSO HAD SOME. FEELING , AN AURA WHEN HE SANG ! MOST SINGERS WHO WRITE THEIR OWN SONGS. DO. BETTER !! LIKE MARTY ROBBINS WROTE MANY OF HIS ,
Jeff Glinka
A country tear jerker. I tried to avoid playing if for a recently divorced friend with a young son, but he insisted he must hear this HW song, when I played it, he broke down and cried. Sing it Hank!
Kaaren Lynch
Hank was the greatest! In his short life he wrote and sang more songs that anyone else I know. And the "I saw the Light" movie was wonderful. Tom Hiddleston did a great job on that.
Hbomb6440
My beautiful Mam used to sing some of Hank's songs when we were kids, I'd give everything I own and more to hear her voice again.
Willam Boarman
Hank Williams Sr has been my most favorite country singer since early childhood. I suppose he always will. No one, and I mean no one can top him!