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.
The Blind Child's Prayer
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To wed another bride,
That you will hold her in your arms,
Where my dear mother died.
They say her name is Mary too,
The name my mother bore,
But Father is she kind and true,Like the one we loved before.
And is her footstep soft and light,
Her voice so meek and mild,
And father do you think she′ll love,
Your blind and helpless child.
Oh father do not bid me come,
To welcome your newmade bride,
I could not greet her in the room,
Where my dear mother died.
But when I've cried myself to sleep,
As I so often do,
Into my chamber you may creep,
My new made mama and you.
He turned away to leave the room,
A joyful cry was given,
He turned about and he knew at last,
His blind child had gone to Heaven.
They buried her by her mother′s side,
And erected a marble square,
And there on the tomb these words do read,
She'll not be blind up there.
Hank Williams's "The Blind Child's Prayer" is a heartbreaking song about the aftermath of a mother's death and the subsequent arrival of the father's new bride. The song is sung from the perspective of the blind child, who is left in a state of confusion and fear as she struggles to accept the woman who has replaced her mother. The child's prayer is a plea for guidance and reassurance from her father, who she questions about the new woman in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh father tonight they say you are,
The child is questioning if her father is remarrying tonight.
To wed another bride,
The father is going to marry someone else.
That you will hold her in your arms,
The father will be affectionate towards the new bride.
Where my dear mother died.
The mother passed away in the same location where the father and bride may be.
They say her name is Mary too,
The bride has the same name as the child's mother.
The name my mother bore,
The name is a reminder of the child's mother.
But Father is she kind and true,
The child is unsure if the bride is a good person.
Like the one we loved before.
The father and child loved the child's mother very much.
And is her footstep soft and light,
The child is asking if the bride's walking is quiet and calm.
Her voice so meek and mild,
The child is asking if the bride's voice is gentle and humble.
And father do you think she’ll love,
The child is asking if the bride will take care of her.
Your blind and helpless child.
The child needs the most care because of her disability.
Oh father do not bid me come,
The child does not want to meet the new bride.
To welcome your newmade bride,
The father wants the child to greet the new bride.
I could not greet her in the room,
The child cannot face the new bride due to the memories of her mother's death.
Where my dear mother died.
The mother's death haunts the child.
But when I've cried myself to sleep,
The child cries often when left alone.
As I so often do,
The child is upset very often.
Into my chamber you may creep,
The father can come into the child's room late at night.
My new made mama and you.
The father and new bride can comfort the child like a family.
He turned away to leave the room,
The father was about to leave the room.
A joyful cry was given,
The child either passed away or has gone to a better place.
He turned about and he knew at last,
The father realized what happened to the child.
His blind child had gone to Heaven.
The child has gone to heaven.
They buried her by her mother’s side,
The child was buried next to her mother.
And erected a marble square,
A memorial marker was placed for the child and mother.
And there on the tomb these words do read,
The marker has an inscription.
She'll not be blind up there.
The child is no longer blind in heaven.
Writer(s): Hank Williams Sr., Traditional
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulawells2932
Such a soft lovely voice! R.I.P Hank. You will never be forgotten. We all love you!
@MSASteelerPSG
No one can sing 'em like ol' Hank, that's for sure.
@fredrumbolt5156
the best of the best ,RIP Hank ,see you on the other side .
@russellmarksberry3758
I'd like to ask them 6
@paulawells2932
You could put no better. Hank was the best!!
@kimberlyyoung8345
Love y'all@@
@rickyjenkins7679
Hankwilliam world best
@billbrown8006
Wonderful love his singing great
@bettystephenson7094
love it thanks for the share
@MsCheychey98
that's right