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.
Sing Sing Sing
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I get to glory I'll see no more
For I know my prayers have not been in vain
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
Sometimes I get so weary inside
Then I recall how my Jesus died
Up there I know there'll be no pain
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Up there no tears will blind my eyes
And I'll walk along by my Jesus' side
I'll meet my loved ones all once again
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Hank Williams's song Sing Sing Sing is a gospel hymn about a rough life on earth and the hope for a blissful life in heaven. The lyrics express the singer's longing for a place where he won't experience any more troubles and pain. He sings about his faith in God and how he knows that his prayers have not been in vain, and that he will be rewarded with joy and peace in the next life. The singer also mentions how remembering Jesus's sacrifice for mankind brings him comfort and strengthens his faith.
The repeated phrase "sing sing sing" in the chorus represents the happiness and celebration the singer anticipates when he gets to glory. He plans to sing praises to his Savior's name and let the Hallelujahs ring. The song also mentions the about meeting the loved ones again and walking with Jesus by his side. The concluding chorus reinforces the idea that the singer's ultimate goal is to glorify God and express his devotion to Him through singing.
The song's composition and lyrics suggest a personal relationship between the performer and the deity they worship. The lyrics offer a message of hope and promise, which are central ideas in the gospel genre. The song incorporates the Southern gospel sound with its simple chord progression and vocal harmonies. The simplicity of melody reflects the message that the song conveys–that heavenly joy and peace in the afterlife are accessible through faith.
Line by Line Meaning
In this world of sorrow I've seen trouble and woe
I have experienced many difficult and sad moments in life.
When I get to glory I'll see no more
In heaven, I believe I will not have to deal with any more suffering.
For I know my prayers have not been in vain
I have faith that my prayers have been heard and will be answered.
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Upon reaching heaven, I plan to sing and rejoice.
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
My praises to God will be loud and joyful.
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
I will honor and recognize the sacrifice that Jesus made for me.
Sometimes I get so weary inside
Occasionally, I feel drained and overwhelmed.
Then I recall how my Jesus died
Reflecting on the death of Jesus helps me find strength and comfort.
Up there I know there'll be no pain
In heaven, there will be no suffering or discomfort.
Up there no tears will blind my eyes
There will no longer be any reason for me to cry in heaven.
And I'll walk along by my Jesus' side
I will be close to Jesus and able to walk with Him in heaven.
I'll meet my loved ones all once again
I will be reunited with those I care about who have passed away.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS, HANK WILLIAMS, SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bluedream17w
In this world of sorrow I've seen trouble and woe
When I get to glory I'll see no more
For I know my prayers have not been in vain
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Sometimes I get so weary inside
Then I recall how my Jesus died
Up there I know there'll be no pain
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Up there no tears will blind my eyes
And I'll walk along by my Jesus' side
I'll meet my loved ones all once again
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
@calvinneighbors6191
We need all of the Hank Williams's we can get right now! YAHWEH BLESS!...
@jimmyrbyamirb7IDF
My grandmother played this song on her 45 record player all day long. Then we & my sisters would ride around in my grandpa 1954 Ford pickup truck, in the back, jumping for joy listening to Hank Williams songs on the radio.
@dorimckee3658
I love how Hank Sr. sung all the truth about the Lord
@dorimckee3658
Hank was so great love him
@jaredison2708
He sang everything he felt, his songs are a proof of God because you know he felt this and believed in it with heart, soul, mind, and strength. God bless this troubled but talented man.
@jonathanboutwell1223
*i
@lynnmillerjr7418
He left us at a young age. We all faced
Death. I pray God I see him after Grandpa.
I want to see him again. He died when I
Was 8. Hank Sr died before dad was born.
This song speaks to me.
@debraperkins4448
Hank is Leading the Holy Choirs! !
@davidedi305
All of my praise belongs to Jesus Christ my Lord and my king bless.
@bluedream17w
In this world of sorrow I've seen trouble and woe
When I get to glory I'll see no more
For I know my prayers have not been in vain
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Sometimes I get so weary inside
Then I recall how my Jesus died
Up there I know there'll be no pain
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
Up there no tears will blind my eyes
And I'll walk along by my Jesus' side
I'll meet my loved ones all once again
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing
I'm gonna let the Hallelujahs ring
I'm gonna praise my blessed Savior's name
When I get to glory I'm gonna sing sing sing