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.
There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make believe that wrong is right
Your wedding day will be tomorrow
But there'll be no teardrops tonight
Why, oh why should you desert me
Are you doin' this for spite
If you only want to hurt me
I'll believe that you still love me
When you wear your veil of white
But you think that you're above me
So there'll be no teardrops tonight
Shame, oh shame for what you're doin'
Other arms will hold you tight
You don't care whose life you ruin
But there'll be no teardrops tonight
The song "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" by Hank Williams can be interpreted as a tale of a man who is betrayed by his lover on the eve of her wedding day. The singer pretends to be free from sorrow, but he is heartbroken by the fact that his lover is getting married to someone else. He imagines that she is doing this to hurt him out of spite, but he still believes that she loves him.
The singer is in disbelief that his former lover would decide to marry someone else, and he questions why she would choose to desert him. He understands that she is moving on and wants to make her happy, but he feels powerless and weak in this situation. The singer knows that he cannot change her decision, but he pleads with her to reconsider.
Despite his pain and suffering, the singer wishes his ex-lover the best on her wedding day. He tries his best to put on a brave face and pretend that there will be no teardrops tonight. However, he cannot help but feel ashamed of what she is doing to him, and what the consequences might be for her.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll pretend I'm free from sorrow
I will deceive myself into believing that I am not sad about what is happening.
Make believe that wrong is right
I will convince myself that what is happening is not wrong and is actually the right thing.
Your wedding day will be tomorrow
You are going to get married very soon.
But there'll be no teardrops tonight
Despite the fact that you are getting married, I will not cry about it tonight.
Why, oh why should you desert me
Why would you leave me?
Are you doin' this for spite
Are you leaving me just to be vindictive or mean?
If you only want to hurt me
If your only intention is to hurt me
Then there'll be no teardrops tonight
I still will not cry about it tonight.
I'll believe that you still love me
I will choose to believe that you still love me.
When you wear your veil of white
On your wedding day when you wear your wedding dress.
But you think that you're above me
You think that you are better than me.
So there'll be no teardrops tonight
Even though I know you think you are better than me, I still will not cry about it tonight.
Shame, oh shame for what you're doin'
It is shameful what you are doing.
Other arms will hold you tight
Someone else will hold you tightly.
You don't care whose life you ruin
You do not care about whose life you are ruining.
But there'll be no teardrops tonight
Despite your careless actions, I will still not cry about it tonight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christian Inman
I'll pretend I'm free from sorrow
Make believe that wrong is right
Your wedding day will be tomorrow
But there'll be no teardrops tonight
Why, oh why, should you desert me?
Are you doin' this for spite?
If you only want to hurt me
Then there'll be no teardrops tonight
I'll believe that you still love me
When you wear your veil of white
But you think that you are above me
So there'll be no teardrops tonight
Shame, oh, shame for what you're doin'
Other arms will hold you tight
But you don't care whose life you ruin
But there'll be no teardrops tonight
pinkfinger66
Crashed my car thirty years ago today and it left me paralyzed. When the car stopped it was upside down in a ditch and this Hank Williams song was still blaring on my radio. Somewhere between the beginning and the end of this song, I lost the use of my legs. There were teardrops that night but I still love this song and all the rest from Hank.
Bob Harris
Sad story.
Heith Kilbarger
Sorry to hear this, blessed you are to be alive tho.
Leah
Your story shows how music defines certain moments in time/life for each of us. Some tragic - some happy. The songs stay with us. Thank you for sharing your story here, with this song, 30 years later. Best to you.
Richard Napier
God bless you
David Hudson
I have always thought this was one of Hank's best songs. When Hank did a song you knew you were listening to the best of the best country music ever has had to offer.
laslos3
There will never be another one as good as Hank Williams... and that is bypassing a lot of awesome talent!
Mr. Wizard
Today is Saturday Febuary 1st 2020. See...Hank will never be forgotten . No other singer I know will ever be the equal of this man. He will always be the King of country music.
Conservative Christian
Pure talent. Nobody I mean nobody can beat ol'Hank. Greatest ever.
Arnaud
The more I discover , the more I enjoy Hank Williams