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 Old Country Church
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a place dear to me where I'm longing to be
With my friends at the old country church
There with mother we went, and our Sundays were spent
With our friends at the old country church
Precious years of memory
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to beWith my friends at the old country church
cs a small country boy, how my heart beat with joy
When I knelt in the old country church
cnd the Savior above thy his wonderful love
Saved my soul at the old country church
Precious years of memory
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be
With my friends at the old country church
Of't my thoughts make me weep, for so many now sleep
In a graves near the old country church
cnd someday I may rest, with the ones I love best
In a grave near the old country church.
Precious years of memories,
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be,
With my friends at the old country church
Precious years of memories,
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be,
With my friends at the old country church
With my friends at the old country church
Hank Williams’s song “The Old Country Church” speaks to the longing of the singer to return to the church of his youth, where he spent precious Sundays with his mother and friends. The lyrics paint a picture of a simpler time, where people gathered together to pray and worship, and the singer reflects on the joy and comfort those memories bring him. It is clear that this church and the people who gathered there for worship made a significant impact on the singer's life, as he wishes for others to experience the same blessings that he did.
The song's meaning goes beyond the nostalgia of simpler times and the joys of childhood. It speaks to the power of community and the importance of faith in people's lives. The songwriter longs for a return to a time where people are more connected, where they gather together and pray as a community. The hope is that, by doing so, they might find the same blessings and comfort that he found in his youth, through the power of prayer and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place near to me, where I'm longing to be
The singer desires to visit a place nearby.
With my friends at the old country church
The singer wants to be with their companions at an old church.
There with mother we went and our Sundays we spent
The singer and their mother frequently visited and spent their Sundays at the church.
Precious years of memories
The singer has fond memories of their time spent at the church.
Oh, what joy they bring to me
The memories of the church bring happiness to the singer.
How I long once more to be
The singer desires to visit the church again.
With my friends at the old country church
The singer wants to be with their companions at an old church.
How I wish that today all the people would pray
The singer wants everyone to pray together.
Like we prayed in that old country church
The singer wants people to pray like they did at the old church.
If they'd only confess, Jesus surely would bless
If people confess, Jesus would bless them.
As He did in that old country church
Jesus blessed the singer and others at the old church.
Precious years of memories
The singer has fond memories of their time spent at the church.
Oh, what joy they bring to me
The memories of the church bring happiness to the singer.
How I long once more to be
The singer desires to visit the church again.
With my friends at the old country church
The singer wants to be with their companions at an old church.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jackedavocado8689
There's a place dear to me
Where I'm longing to be
With my friends at the old country-church
There with mother we went
And our Sundays we spent
With our friends at the old country-church
Precious years of memories
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be
With my friends at the old country-church
As a small country boy
How my heart beat with joy
When i knelt in that old country-church
And the Savior above
In his wonderful love
Saved my soul at the old country-church
Precious years of memories
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be
With my friends at the old country-church
How I wish that today
All the people would pray
As we prayed in that old country-church
If they'd only confess
Jesus surely would bless
As He did in the old country-church
Precious years of memories
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be
With my friends at the old country-church
Oh my thoughts make me weep
Far so many now sleep
In that grave near the old country-church
May i rest with my friends
In that grave in the end
In the grave near the old country-church
Precious years of memories
Oh what joy they bring to me
How I long once more to be
With my friends at the old country-church
@robertneil4559
I am an 81 year old Navy Veteran. When I was nine years old I remember my Dad climbing upon the roof of our home to adjust the radio antenna so we could listen to the Grand old Opry. My Dad loved Hank Williams and his music. I keep it alive in my family. Soon I will going home to heaven. God bless.
@BLUESWORSHIP
May God bless not only my life but also the person reading this message and all those in need of You. Amen.
@arvilljeanworley
My husband listened to this all the time we lost him December 23rd 2024
@lisaparsons4124
Thanks,May God bless you 🙏💙
@lisaparsons4124
@@arvilljeanworleyso sorry about your husband.My Dad John Parsons passed away May 2002,he liked Hank Williams Sr
@chuckeelhart1746
Funny. All gods are imaginary.
@rickycervantes5993
1985 baby 🇲🇽💥... Miss my whitegurl 🎉💯 TX 🎉🇲🇽 here
@SuperSafetychick
If we only had old country churches again preaching the truth, no canned music or fake spirituality.
@ShadowPlay1919
There's a few. Sometimes pharisees fill the pews
@RickyRatliff-ty9bd
Yes we need some old country churches