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.
Please Don't Let Me Love You
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just because I'm feelin' blue
And please don't let me kiss you
'Cause I know you'll be untrue
Because you're a sweet dear, I want to love you
Please stay away from my heart
And please don't let me love you
'Cause I know you'll break my heart
Oh, please don't call me darling'
When I know you don't love me
And please don't whisper sweetheart
For I know it just can't be
When I'm lonely, I want you only
Where is the dream I once knew
Oh, please don't let me love you
'Cause I know you'll be untrue
The lyrics of Hank Williams's song Please Don't Let Me Love You speak of unrequited love and a plea to the beloved to refrain from reciprocating the same. The first two lines of the song convey the message of a sad man asking the woman not to let him love her just because he is feeling low. He is aware of her unfaithfulness and hence begs her to not kiss him either.
The stanza about the woman being sweet and the singer wanting to love her has a tragic undertone. He pleads with her to stay away from his heart as he knows it will only lead to heartbreak. This is a classic example of unrequited love, where the singer’s love is never returned.
The third stanza of the song is the singer's appeal to the woman not to call him "darling" or "sweetheart" as he knows it is only an act, and she doesn't love him. He laments his loneliness and confesses his love for this woman who does not reciprocate such feelings. The song's message is a plea to not break his heart, as he knows their love can never be.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh! plea-ease - don't let me love you
I'm asking you to please not let me fall in love with you.
Just be- cause I'm feelin' blue
My emotions are low and I may not be thinking clearly.
And plea-ease - don't let me kiss you
I know that if we kiss, you will end up breaking my heart.
'cause I know you'll be untrue.
I'm aware that you are not capable of being faithful.
Because you're sweet dear, I want to love you
Your personality is charming and I am attracted to it.
plea-ease - stay away from my heart
Keep your distance from me emotionally.
'cause I know you- ll break my heart.
I am certain that if I let myself fall for you, you will hurt me in the end.
Oh! plea-ease don't call me darlin'
Please do not use affectionate terms with me if you do not truly feel affection towards me.
When I'm lonely, I want you only
In moments of loneliness, I desire your company above all others.
Where is the dream I once knew
My hope of a romantic relationship with you has grown distant or faded.
For I know it just can't be
I understand that a relationship with you is not feasible or realistic.
'cause I know you'll be untrue.
I am aware that you are not capable of being faithful.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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