Hank Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953), born Hiram King Willi… Read Full Bio ↴Hank Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953), born Hiram King Williams, was an American singer-songwriter and musician regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that would place in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one.

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 Blues Come Around
Hank Williams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Once I was happy as I could be
But I let a girl make a fool of me
And ever since she let me down
The blues come around when the sun goes down

Oh, the blues come around
Oh, the blues come around
Lord, the blues come around

Ev'ry evenin' when the sun goes down

As long as the sun is in the sky
These doggone blues never make me cry
But ever since she left this town
The blues come around when the sun goes down

Oh, the blues come around
Oh, the blues come around
Lord, the blues come around
Ev'ry evenin' when the sun goes down

I built my castles very high
And then she went and said goodbye
And ever since she tore 'em down
The blues come around when the sun goes down

Oh, the blues come around
Oh, the blues come around
Lord, the blues come around
Ev'ry evenin' when the sun goes down

Once she called me all her own
But now she's gone and I'm alone
And ever evenin' I'm sorrow bound
'Cause the blues come around when the sun goes down

Oh, the blues come around
Oh, the blues come around
Lord, the blues come around
Ev'ry evenin' when the sun goes down

Oh, the blues come around
Yeah, the blues come around

Lord, the blues come around
Ev'ry evenin' when the sun goes down

Overall Meaning

Hank Williams’s song “The Blues Come Around” is a classic tale of lost love and the accompanying sadness that follows. The lyrics describe how Hank was once happy but had his heartbroken by a girl, causing him to experience the “blues”. The repetitive use of the phrase “the blues come around” emphasizes the cyclical nature of sadness and how it continues to return like the setting sun.

The opening lines “Once I was happy as I could be, but I let a girl make a fool of me” set the tone for the song as the singer talks about how he allowed himself to be vulnerable and was ultimately let down by someone who he trusted. The chorus, “Oh, the blues come around… every evening when the sun goes down”, emphasizes the idea that the day’s end brings with it the sadness that the singer feels as he reflects on what was once there.

The song's lyrics are straightforward and relatable, making it popular among country music fans. Hank Williams’s mournful voice captures the deep sorrow of losing someone you love, and the chorus is both simple and unforgettable, making it easy to sing along to.

The Blues Come AroundHank Williams Lyrics

The Blues Come Around
Hank Williams Lyrics