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.
Settin' the Woods on Fire
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You act proud and I'll act prouder
You sing loud and I'll sing louder
Tonight we're settin' the woods on fire
You're my gal and I'm your feller
Dress up in your frock of yeller
I'll look swell but you'll look sweller
Settin' the woods on fire
We'll take in all the honky-tonks, tonight we're having fun
We'll show the folks a brand-new dance that never has been done
I don't care who thinks we're silly
You'll be daffy and I'll be dilly
We'll order up two bowls of chili
Settin' the woods on fire
I'll gas up my hot-rod stoker
We'll get hotter than a poker
You'll be broke but I'll be broker
Tonight we're settin' the woods on fire
We'll sit close to one another
Up one street and down the other
We'll have time, oh brother
Settin' the woods on fire
We'll put aside a little time to fix a flat or two
My tires and tubes are doin' fine but the air is showin' through
You clap hands and I'll start bowin'
We'll do all the law's allowin'
Tomorrow I'll be right back plowin'
Settin' the woods on fire
Hank Williams's song Settin' the Woods on Fire is a classic country song filled with fun, cheer, and excitement. The song is about two lovers who are planning to have a wild and crazy night, and they are determined to set everything down in flames. The lyrics of the song are full of playful banter and a sense of carefree mischief.
The song starts with the lines "Comb your hair and paint and powder, You act proud and I'll act prouder, You sing loud and I'll sing louder, Tonight we're settin' the woods on fire." These lyrics suggest that the two lovers are preparing themselves for a wild night out, where they plan to set the world on fire with their love and passion.
The lines "We'll take in all the honky-tonks, tonight we're having fun, We'll show the folks a brand-new dance that never has been done" suggest that the lovers are going to hit all the local bars and clubs, where they will indulge in some wild and crazy dancing.
Overall, Settin' the Woods on Fire is a fun and playful song that celebrates the joy and excitement of an adventurous night out with the person you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Comb your hair and paint and powder
Make yourself look good by grooming and applying makeup
You act proud and I'll act prouder
We'll both show off our confidence
You sing loud and I'll sing louder
We'll compete with each other to see who can sing louder
Tonight we're settin' the woods on fire
We plan to have an exciting and wild time tonight
You're my gal and I'm your feller
We're a couple and we're committed to each other
Dress up in your frock of yeller
Wear your best, attention-grabbing outfit
I'll look swell but you'll look sweller
I'll look great but you'll look even better
Settin' the woods on fire
Having a wild and exciting time
We'll take in all the honky-tonks, tonight we're having fun
We'll visit all the bars and clubs to have a good time
We'll show the folks a brand-new dance that never has been done
We'll introduce a new dance move to everyone
I don't care who thinks we're silly
We don't care about what others think of us
You'll be daffy and I'll be dilly
We'll act crazy and silly
We'll order up two bowls of chili
We'll get some food to eat
I'll gas up my hot-rod stoker
I'll fill up my car with gas
We'll get hotter than a poker
We'll become increasingly energized and excited
You'll be broke but I'll be broker
We'll spend a lot of money and end up broke
Tonight we're settin' the woods on fire
Having a wild and exciting time
We'll sit close to one another
We'll stay physically close to each other
Up one street and down the other
We'll walk around town and explore different streets
We'll have time, oh brother
We'll have plenty of time to do whatever we want
Settin' the woods on fire
Having a wild and exciting time
We'll put aside a little time to fix a flat or two
We'll take a break to fix a flat tire on the car
My tires and tubes are doin' fine but the air is showin' through
My car looks good but there's still an issue with the air pressure
You clap hands and I'll start bowin'
We'll do a little performance for each other
We'll do all the law's allowin'
We'll make sure to follow the law
Tomorrow I'll be right back plowin'
Tomorrow, I'll be back to my more mundane job
Settin' the woods on fire
Having a wild and exciting time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Rose, Ed Sr. Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind