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 Waltz of the Wind
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The trees played the waltz of the wind
It was there I knew I'd love you forever
As we danced to the waltz of the wind
The stars up above you, look down in your eyes
And there, in the moonlight I knew
So, I'll say goodbye dear, till tomorrow
You were there in my arms, alone in the moonlight
The trees played the waltz of the wind
It was there I knew I'd love you forever
As we danced to the waltz of the wind
The stars up above you, look down in your eyes
And there in the moonlight I knew
So, I'll say goodbye dear, till tomorrow
Till we dance to the waltz of the wind
In Hank Williams's song The Waltz of the Wind, he paints a romantic and intimate picture of a memorable moment between two people beneath the moonlit sky as they dance to “the waltz of the wind”. As the breeze rustles the leaves of the trees, the stars bear witness to the genuine love that is being shared between the two. It is evident that the singer is fully present in the moment and is conscious that this will be a timeless event in his life. He realizes that he would love her forever as they dance to the enchanting melody of the wind.
Line by Line Meaning
You were there in my arms, alone in the moonlight
We were together under the moonlight and I held you close
The trees played the waltz of the wind
The sound of the wind blowing through the trees sounded like a waltz
It was there I knew I'd love you forever
In that moment, I realized that my love for you would last a lifetime
As we danced to the waltz of the wind
We moved together to the rhythm of the wind, lost in our love for each other
The stars up above you, look down in your eyes
The stars shine down on you and reflect in your eyes, adding to your beauty
And there, in the moonlight I knew
In that moment, I had a realization or epiphany that was significant to our relationship
So, I'll say goodbye dear, till tomorrow
I must say farewell for now, but I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow
Till we dance to the waltz of the wind
Next time we meet, we will dance together again to the beautiful song of the wind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind