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.
Take These Chains From My Heart
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've grown cold and no longer care for me
All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Take these tears from my eyes and let me see
Just a spark of the love that used to be
If you love somebody new, let me find a new love too
Give my heart just a word of sympathy
Be as fair to my heart as you can be
Then, if you no longer care
For the love that's beating there
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
You've grown cold and no longer care for me
Hank Williams's song "Take These Chains From My Heart" is a heart-wrenching plea from a lover to be set free from the chains that are holding their heart captive. The song begins with the singer asking their lover to release them from their emotional chains and to let them go free. The singer has come to realize that their lover has grown cold towards them and no longer cares, leading them to lose faith in the relationship. However, the heartache still lingers on, which they want to be free from.
In the second verse, the singer beseeches their lover to take away the tears from their eyes and try to rekindle the love that once existed between them. The singer understands that their lover might have found a new love, and if that is the case, they too deserve to move on and find a new love. The singer pleads with their lover to be fair to their heart and to offer a word of sympathy.
The final verse sees the singer asking their lover to take away the chains from their heart and set them free. They acknowledge that their love is no longer reciprocated, which makes it easier for them to let go. The song ends on a somber note, and it is clear that the singer is resigned to the fact that their love is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Release me from the emotional pain I have been feeling due to my love for you.
You've grown cold and no longer care for me
You don't have the same feelings for me anymore and it's hurting me.
All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on
I don't trust you or believe in you anymore, but the pain from our relationship still persists.
Take these tears from my eyes and let me see
Stop making me cry and help me see the positive things in life again.
Just a spark of the love that used to be
I only need a small reminder of the love we used to share to feel better.
If you love somebody new, let me find a new love too
If you've moved on, please let me move on too and find someone else to love.
Give my heart just a word of sympathy
Show some compassion for the pain I'm going through.
Be as fair to my heart as you can be
Treat me with kindness and consideration in my difficult time.
Then, if you no longer care
If you are truly done with our relationship,
For the love that's beating there
For the love that is still present within me,
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Please let me move on from our relationship and find happiness again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Rose, Hy Heath
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
perry cox
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
You're grow cold and no longer care for me
All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Take these tears from my eyes and let me see
Just a spark of the love that use to be
If you love somebody new let me me find a new love too
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Give my heart just a word of sympathy
Be as fair to my heart as you can be
Then if you no longer care for the love being there
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
You're grow cold and no longer care for me
All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on
Take these chains from my heart and set me free
Kim Moses
The older I get the more I love his music.
charles j Puppy
I HAVE TO AGREE KIM ,THESE PEOPLE WHO WAS RAISED ON GEORGE JONES AND OTHERS .HAVE TO UNDERSTAND 1 THING WITHOUT HANK THERE WOULD BE NO COUNTRY & WESTERN.EVEN THE GREAT JOHNNY CASH WAS INFLUENCED B Y HIM.
Harold Williams
@charles j Puppy You know I don't understand hi that Hank III sounds just like Hank Sr. He could write songs like his Grandpa did and have the country music people eating out of his hands..You should listen to him if you think I'm wrong judge for your self
Missy Villanueva
I grew up with this music listening to Hank Williams, Kitty wells and more my dad just pass away Recently I need song bring me so much memories
Amezz
that's maybe the point haha
Samuel Odonoughoe
If you haven’t seen it... I’d recommend the film ‘ I saw the light ‘ ...Tom hiddleston plays hank Williams...
qokl8 Skeight
He even sounded on the verge of tears. No one else but him has such raw emotion in their voice.
Dominik Jan Sieron
Ray Charles has
Robbie Lawshe
We need to keep this music alive
Caleb Ellison
Such heart wrenching honesty in his music. I love Hank's music and his sincerity so much.