Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew not where the road would end
Not a penny in my pocket
All a lone without a friend
In a little country village
I met a man and he was blind
As I helped him cross the high-way
Oh! lord I cried thy burdens are greater than mine.
I can see the light of day
I need not feel my way
Yes, thy burdens are greater than mine.
Met a lad while on my travels
Tryin' hard to play the game
Though his leg was very crippled
And he could not speak his name
Yet, he smiled in understandin'
Though life to him had been unkind
And as I watched, I cried in sorrow
Oh! lord his burdens are greater than mine.
I can speak my name aloud
Make my way among the crowd
Yes, his burdens are greater than mine.
Just by chance I passed a graveyard
I saw a young man kneelin' there
In his hand, there were some roses
On his lips, there was a prayer
On a stone, these words were written
"Your soul is god's, your mem'ry mine"
And as I watched, I cried in sorrow
Oh! lord I see his burdens are greater than mine.
Hank Williams's song "Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine" is a poignant story about meeting three different individuals with burdens greater than his own on a lonely highway. The first individual he meets is a blind man whom he helps cross the highway. The blind man's affliction and the fact he cannot see the light of day make the singer grateful for his own sight. The second individual is a mute and crippled boy who manages to smile despite his misfortunes. The singer is moved to tears as he recognizes the boy's burdens are much greater than his own. The third individual is kneeling in prayer over a grave with a bouquet of roses in his hand. Upon further inspection, the singer reads an inscription that suggests the man is mourning the death of someone he loved. The singer empathizes with the young man's pain and recognizes his burdens are greater than his own.
The song's central theme is a recognition of other people's struggles, even if one's own burdens seem heavy. The singer recognizes that despite his own difficulties, others' are more significant and sometimes unbearable. He shows empathy, compassion, and humility.
The song's message is still relevant today, as people need to be reminded of the importance of standing in solidarity with those who face challenges and difficulties. Instead of being judgemental, the song encourages listeners to put themselves in other people's shoes and to show kindness and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Travelin' down a lonely highway
I was wandering aimlessly on a deserted road
I knew not where the road would end
I had no idea where my journey would take me
Not a penny in my pocket
I had no money or possessions
All alone without a friend
I had no companions to keep me company
In a little country village
I stumbled upon a small town
I met a man and he was blind
I encountered a visually impaired man
As I helped him cross the high-way
I assisted him in crossing the road
Oh! lord I cried thy burdens are greater than mine.
I realized that the difficulties he faced in his life were greater than mine
I can see the light of day
I have the ability to see and experience the world around me
I need not feel my way
I don't have to rely on my sense of touch to navigate my surroundings
Yes, thy burdens are greater than mine.
I acknowledged that his struggles were much harder than mine
Met a lad while on my travels
During my journey, I encountered a young man
Tryin' hard to play the game
He was doing his best to succeed in life
Though his leg was very crippled
He had a physical disability that made it difficult for him to walk
And he could not speak his name
He was unable to communicate his identity verbally
Yet, he smiled in understandin'
Despite his challenges, he remained positive and empathetic
Though life to him had been unkind
He had experienced many difficulties and hardships in his life
And as I watched, I cried in sorrow
I felt emotional and sad as I observed his struggles
Oh! lord his burdens are greater than mine.
I realized that his challenges in life were much harder than mine
I can speak my name aloud
I have the ability to communicate verbally
Make my way among the crowd
I can navigate through crowds of people without difficulty
Yes, his burdens are greater than mine.
I recognized that his hardships were more significant than my own
Just by chance I passed a graveyard
Coincidentally, I stumbled upon a cemetery
I saw a young man kneelin' there
I observed a young man praying while on his knees
In his hand, there were some roses
He was holding a bouquet of flowers
On his lips, there was a prayer
He was speaking to a higher power and seeking guidance
On a stone, these words were written
There was an inscription on a nearby gravestone
"Your soul is god's, your mem'ry mine"
The gravestone had a message of someone's passing
And as I watched, I cried in sorrow
I was overcome with sadness as I observed this scene
Oh! lord I see his burdens are greater than mine.
I realized that he was going through a deeper form of suffering than myself
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PEE WEE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cm6string
19 and lovin Hank. Hank would be ashamed to see “country music” today.
@leonriege01
anyone who believes in christ like hank,know that there are things greater than ourselves. One day on our way to church listening to "lord build me a cabin" my wife began to cry when asked whats the matter she responded "I just realized hnks mission here was to carry the gospel to those who might not otherwise recieve or understand it" and this is just one reason I love that gal of mine .
@ExceptionalMediocrity
I love hearing that, 9 years after your post, that was a blessing to read this Easter morning
@jimchumley7907
AMEN!
@reallylonely1
I first heard Hank in 1952 and have listened to him sing thousands of times since . Singers come and go , but Hank Williams songs will be around till the good Lord comes again . PS i'm 88 yrs old .
@vernoncorns2703
A truthful song me need to remember they are people in worst shape than us and Hank Williams knew that thank you for the music 🎶
@junebrwn
I love Hank Williams - when I was 13 he was my favorite singer and I was devastated when he died. He still is my favorite these many years later.
@davidmalone3317
Reminds me of Billy Joe Shaver"A long time ago,with no shoes on my feet, I walked 10 miles of train track,to hear Hank Williams sing.His body was worn,but his spirit was free,and he sang every song,looking right straight at me"
@jtroueche1980
I remember as a kid in the 80’s I saw a biographical movie about Hank. A scene with this song stuck in my memory forever.
@Matt-d7p
I'm 13 rn. I wonder if I'll Still like him when I older