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 Funeral
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When slowly through the window came a plaintive funeral hymn
My sympathy awakened and a wonder quickly grew
'Til I found myself environed in a little colored pew
Out front a colored couple sat in sorrow nearly wild
On the altar was a casket and in the casket was a child
I could picture him while living, curly hair protruding lips
Then rose a sad, old colored preacher from his little wooden desk
With a manner sort of awkward and countenance grotesque
The simplicity and shrewdness in his Ethiopian face
Showed the wisdom and the ignorance of a crushed, undying race
And he said, "Now don't be weepin' for this pretty bit of clay
For the little boy who lived there has done gone and run away
He was doing very finely and he 'ppreciates your love
But his sho nough father wanted him in the big house up above
The Lord didn't give you that baby, by no hundred thousand miles
He just think you need some sunshine and he lent it for a while
And he let you keep and love him 'til your hearts were bigger grown
And these silver tears you're shedding now, are just interest on the loan
Just think my poor dear mourners creeping long on sorrow?s way
What a blessed picnic this here baby got today
Your good fathers and good mothers crowd the little fella round
In the angels 'tender garden of the big plantation ground
And his eyes they brightly sparkle at the pretty things he view
But a tear came and he whispered, "I want my parents too"
Then the angel's chief musicians teach that little boy a song
Says if only they be faithful, they'll soon be comin' 'long
And so my poor dear mourners, let your hearts with Jesus rest
And don't go to criticizn' the one what knows the best
He has give us many comforts He's got the right to take away
To the Lord be praised in glory, now and ever, let us pray
The song "The Funeral" by Hank Williams tells the story of the singer's encounter with a mournful scene outside a church in Savannah. The window of the church revealed a funeral taking place, where a child was being mourned by his family. The singer sympathizes with the mourners, and his mind wanders to memories of other children he has seen before. Suddenly, a preacher rises and begins to speak to the grieving family, telling them not to weep for the child, as he has gone to be with his father in heaven. The preacher then reminds the family that the child was but a loan from God, and now that the loan is up, the child has gone back to the Lord. The song ends with the preacher urging the mourners to rest their hearts with Jesus, trusting that He knows best.
The song is a poignant reflection on the nature of life and death, and the role that faith plays in helping people make sense of the greatest mysteries of life. Hank Williams was known for his ability to articulate deep emotions in his songs, and "The Funeral" is no exception. By juxtaposing the sadness of the mourners with the preacher's message of hope, Williams shows how even in the darkest of times, faith can offer solace and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I was walking in Savannah past a church, decayed and dim
The singer was walking through the city of Savannah when they saw an old, rundown church
When slowly through the window came a plaintive funeral hymn
As they walked by, they could hear a somber hymn being sung from inside the church
My sympathy awakened and a wonder quickly grew
The sad and mournful music stirred up feelings of sorrow and curiosity in the singer
'Til I found myself environed in a little colored pew
Before the artist knew it, they had entered the church and sat down in a small pew meant for people of color
Out front a colored couple sat in sorrow nearly wild
Sitting in front of the artist was a heartbroken couple who were grieving intensely
On the altar was a casket and in the casket was a child
The church was hosting a funeral service for a young child who had passed away
I could picture him while living, curly hair protruding lips
The singer could visualize what the deceased child looked like when he was alive - with curly hair and full lips
I'd seen perhaps a thousand in my hurried southern trips
As someone who frequently travels through the southern US, the artist has seen many children who looked like the one in the casket
Then rose a sad, old colored preacher from his little wooden desk
A sorrowful and elderly African American preacher stood up from a small pulpit made of wood
With a manner sort of awkward and countenance grotesque
Although his demeanor was a bit unusual, the preacher had a wise and experienced air about him
The simplicity and shrewdness in his Ethiopian face
The preacher had a humble and straightforward appearance, but also demonstrated cleverness and cunning
Showed the wisdom and the ignorance of a crushed, undying race
The preacher's demeanor reflected the resilience and hardship of African Americans, who have faced many obstacles and trials
And he said, "Now don't be weepin' for this pretty bit of clay
The preacher urged the grieving family not to cry for the child's body still in the casket
For the little boy who lived there has done gone and run away
He assured them that the child's soul had already gone to Heaven, leaving his physical body behind
He was doing very finely and he 'ppreciates your love
The preacher explained that the child had been doing well in Heaven and was grateful for the love that had been shown to him on Earth
But his sho nough father wanted him in the big house up above
However, God had decided that it was time for the child to join Him in Heaven
The Lord didn't give you that baby, by no hundred thousand miles
The preacher reminded the family that the child had been loaned to them by God, and that He was the one who had ultimately given and taken away the child's life
He just think you need some sunshine and he lent it for a while
God had allowed the family to experience the joy of having a child for a short while, and he hoped that it had brought some light into their lives
And he let you keep and love him 'til your hearts were bigger grown
God gave the family a chance to love and care for the child until their hearts had grown bigger and stronger
And these silver tears you're shedding now, are just interest on the loan
The tears they were shedding for the child were a small token to repay part of the debt they owed to God for allowing them to care for him
Just think my poor dear mourners creeping long on sorrow's way
The preacher urged the family to remember that they were not alone, and that many others had gone through similar pain and grief
What a blessed picnic this here baby got today
He described the funeral service as a joyful celebration, since the child was now in a happy place surrounded by loved ones
Your good fathers and good mothers crowd the little fella round
The child was being welcomed into Heaven by previous generations of family members who had gone before him
In the angels' tender garden of the big plantation ground
Heaven was like a beautiful garden tended to by caring angels
And his eyes they brightly sparkle at the pretty things he view
The child was in awe of the beauty of Heaven and was filled with wonder
But a tear came and he whispered, "I want my parents too"
Despite his happiness, the child still missed his earthly family and wished they were with him
Then the angels' chief musicians teach that little boy a song
The chief angels taught the child a song to ease his sorrow and fill him with hope
Says if only they be faithful, they'll soon be comin' 'long
The song reassured the child that if his family remained faithful and followed the ways of the Lord, they would be reunited with him in Heaven soon
And so my poor dear mourners, let your hearts with Jesus rest
The preacher encouraged the family to seek solace in their faith and entrust the soul of their child to Jesus
And don't go to criticizn' the one what knows the best
They shouldn't question God's decision to take the child, since He knew what was best
He has give us many comforts He's got the right to take away
God had blessed them with many comforts in life, but He also had the right to take them away when He saw fit
To the Lord be praised in glory, now and ever, let us pray
The preacher closed by leading the congregation in prayer to give thanks to God and praise Him for His glory
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PHARRELL WILLIAMS, MICHAEL AARON EINZIGER, HANS ZIMMER, MELISSA MUIK, JOHNNY MARR, ROBERT BADAMI, ANDREW KAWCZYNSKI, MARK WHERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rodan2852
Never heard a better hymn 😢
@frwystr
for real😢 gotta rethink my whole life when i hear these songs
@tylerfrederick5055
Silver tears your crying are just interest on the loan. Good lord this is emaculate writing. And yea it hits s much harder when someone writes with honesty. We can't do that anymore. He clearly has love for the blacks and he's honest about what he sees. Something like this could never be made today but that goes without saying on a thousand different levels
@stationmanager9325
Hank had a beautiful singing talent. Not only could he sing, but he could polish the lens of one soul with his poetry.
@angelobolton951
only a true poet with a heart that could feel every emotion of humanity could pen something this profound.
@deccakitty
This song was recorded January 9, 1950, Castle Studio, Nashville The first session of Hank singing as "Luke The Drifter" Produced by Fred Rose - Don Helms on Steel, Owen Bradley on Organ, Bass by Hillous Butrum. Guitarist Bob McNett, who attended the session, later recalled that both Williams and Don Helms had tears in their eyes after they had finished recording: "'The Funeral' really touched him. When he did it, he lost himself in it"... It may not be politically correct by today's standards but it's an emotional piece and for a white man to record a song sympathetic to the negro community at this time (1950) I think it really shows the kind of man Hank Williams was. I just bought this 78rpm record today (flip side Beyond The Sunset) and it will be a permanent record in my 1949 AMI Model C Jukebox.
@Like_Video01
Hank Williams was regarded by those of color as one of their own. You could not find many throughout the south that did not enjoy or support his music. He had a huge following within their community for many many years and this song was his way of paying tribute to them.
@jimmylemley4998
truly a man with a "broken heart" God bless his memory
@woodennickel6148
@@Like_Video01
No matter how it would be received presently the heartfelt compassion and sincerity is timeless in a sense above the issues of the day.
@davidstokes2780
Mr. Hank Williams, the hillbilly poet. Talent the world will never see again. His intentions were sincere and genuine for the time period. R.I.P. Mr. Hank Williams