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.
Six More Miles
Hank Williams Lyrics
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And my heart is so sore
Six more miles and leave my darling
Never on this earth to meet no more
Six more miles to the graveyard
Six more miles, long and sad
Six more miles and leave my darling
Oh, I hear the train a-comin'
Bringin' my darlin' back home
Six more miles to the graveyard
And I'll be left here all alone
Six more miles to the graveyard
Six more miles, long and sad
Six more miles and leave my darling
Leave the best friend, I ever had
Six more miles to the graveyard
Six more miles, long and sad
Six more miles and leave my darling
Leave the best friend, I ever had
The lyrics of Hank Williams's song Six More Miles revolve around the theme of loss and the sorrow of separation. The song portrays a heartbroken protagonist who is set on a journey to bury their loved one six miles away at the graveyard, and the pain of knowing that they will never see their loved one again. The steady rain and the sound of the train in the background add to the melancholic atmosphere of the song.
The lyrics of the song convey a sense of deep longing and regret. The singer seems to be overwhelmed by their emotions, as they confront the reality of leaving their loved one behind forever. The song is also rich in imagery, with references to the graveyard and the train, which symbolize the journey of life and death.
In summary, Six More Miles is a poignant song that expresses the intense emotions of loss and grief, enhanced by its vivid imagery and melancholic melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the rain is slowly fallin'
The weather is dreary, and the singer is feeling low.
And my heart is so sore
The singer's heart is heavy with sadness and pain.
Six more miles and leave my darling
The singer is preparing to leave their loved one for good.
Never on this earth to meet no more
The singer knows that they will never see their beloved again.
Oh, I hear the train a-comin'
The singer hears the train that will take their loved one away.
Bringin' my darlin' back home
The train is bringing the singer's loved one to their final resting place.
Six more miles to the graveyard
The singer is six miles away from the cemetery where their loved one will be laid to rest.
And I'll be left here all alone
Once their loved one is gone, the singer will be left to grieve by themselves.
Leave the best friend, I ever had
The singer is not only losing their romantic partner, but their closest friend as well.
Six more miles to the graveyard
The repetition emphasizes the distance that the singer must travel and the inevitability of what is to come.
Six more miles, long and sad
The journey to the cemetery is a long and sorrowful one for the singer.
Six more miles and leave my darling
The singer is counting down the miles until they must say goodbye to their loved one forever.
Leave the best friend, I ever had
Once again, the singer reminds the listener of the deep bond they shared with their loved one.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Williams Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind