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.
Weary Blues
Hank Williams Lyrics
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Lord, I've been waitin' too long
These blues have got me cryin'
The snow falls 'round my window
But it can't chill my heart
God knows it died the day you left
My dream world fell a part.
Weary blues from waitin'
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
These blues have got me cryin'
Thru tears I watch young lovers
As they go strollin' by
Oh, all the things that might have been
God forgive me if I cry.
Weary blues from waitin'
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
These blues have got me cryin'
The song "Weary Blues in Waitin'" by Hank Williams is a heart-wrenching ballad about lost love and the pain it brings. The opening line of the first verse, "Lord, I've been waitin' too long," sets the tone for the entire song, which is a lament for a lost love that never returned. The singer is filled with melancholy and regret, as he is haunted by thoughts of what might have been.
In verse two, he describes the snow falling outside his window, a fitting metaphor for the cold, lonely world he has been left in after being abandoned by his lover. He says that his heart is as cold and dead as the snow outside, emphasizing the pain and emptiness he feels. He then speaks of his dream world falling apart, a reference to the hopes and dreams he had for his relationship, which have now crumbled to dust.
The final verse speaks of the bitterness and jealousy he feels as he observes young lovers strolling by. He wonders what might have been if his lover had stayed, and laments his own mistakes and shortcomings that led to her departure. The song ends with the refrain, "These blues have got me cryin'," a fitting end to a powerful and emotional song.
Line by Line Meaning
Weary blues from waitin'
Feeling exhausted and sad due to waiting for something for too long.
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
Expressing frustration at waiting for too long and feeling hopeless about the situation.
These blues have got me cryin'
Feeling emotional, sad and vulnerable due to the long waiting period.
The snow falls 'round my window
Describing the cold and lonely atmosphere around the singer's window as they wait for something.
But it can't chill my heart
Despite the coldness and loneliness, the singer's heart is already numb and dead due to the disappointment of waiting.
God knows it died the day you left
Acknowledging that the painful waiting started after the person they loved left them and they haven't been able to move on since then.
My dream world fell apart
The singer is unable to maintain their dreams and hopes as the waiting period wears on them heavily.
Thru tears I watch young lovers
The singer observes other people in love, which makes them feel sad and even more lonely.
As they go strollin' by
A visual image of the lovers walking by and the singer's feelings of envy, regret and sadness.
Oh, all the things that might have been
Regretting the missed opportunities and all the positive things that could have happened if they weren't waiting for too long.
God forgive me if I cry
Asking for forgiveness and strength for emotions displayed while crying due to the long waiting period.
Contributed by Leah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.