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.
Why Don't You Love Me
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin'
In a long, long while
We don't get nearer or further or closer
Why don't you spark me like you used to do
And say sweet nothin's like you used to coo
I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
So, why don't you love me like you used to do
Well, why don't you be just like you used to be
How come you find so many faults with me
Somebody's changed so let me give you a clue
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin'
In a long, long while
We don't get nearer or further or closer
Than a country mile
Why don't you say the things you used to say
What makes you treat me like a piece of clay
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Hank Williams' song Why Don't You Love Me is an emotional appeal to a lover who has lost interest in the singer. The lyrics are full of questions that the singer wants answers to, such as "Why don't you love me like you used to do" and "How come you treat me like a worn-out shoe." The singer is desperate to rekindle the romance and is reminding the lover of what they used to have. The verses indicate a lack of intimacy and affection with "Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' in a long, long while," and "We don't get nearer or further or closer than a country mile." The singer is lamenting the loss of the passion they once shared and wants to know why the lover no longer feels the same.
In the chorus, the desperation continues with "Why don't you spark me like you used to do," and "I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through." The singer is willing to change to try and win back the lover's heart, asking "Why don't you be just like you used to be," and "What makes you treat me like a piece of clay?" The singer reaffirms their unchanged appearance with "My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue," emphasizing that it cannot be their physical appearance that has caused the shift in the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, why don't you love me like you used to do
Asking why the person doesn't love him/her anymore like they once did
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
Questioning why the person is treating him/her like something that is no longer needed
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Stating that the physical appearance has not changed despite the lack of love from the other person
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Reiterating the question from the beginning of the song
Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin', In a long, long while
Expressing the lack of affection and intimacy experienced recently
We don't get nearer or further or closer, Than a country mile
Describing the distance between them emotionally, being incredibly far apart
Why don't you spark me like you used to do
Asking why the other person doesn't ignite his/her passion like they once did
And say sweet nothin's like you used to coo
Expressing a desire for the sweet talk and flattery that was once present
I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
Acknowledging that he/she has always been a problem for the other person
So, why don't you love me like you used to do
Repeating the question in order to express perplexity
Well, why don't you be just like you used to be
Asking why the other person doesn't act the same way they used to
How come you find so many faults with me
Addressing the other person's excessive criticism of him/her
Somebody's changed so let me give you a clue
Suggesting that the other person is responsible for the change in their relationship dynamic
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Repeating the question once again to emphasize the lack of understanding of the other person's behavior
Why don't you say the things you used to say
Questioning why the other person doesn't use the same words of affection as before
What makes you treat me like a piece of clay
Asking why the other person is molding him/her the way they want
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Repeating that the physical appearance hasn't changed, but the level of affection from the other person has
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Reiterating the song title and the main question throughout the song
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LAWTON WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bettoks5332
Well, why don't you love me like you used to do
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' In a long, long while
We don't get nearer or further or closer than a country mile
Why don't you spark me like you used to do
And say sweet nothin's like you used to coo
I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
So, why don't you love me like you used to do
Well, why don't you be just like you used to be
How come you find so many faults with me
Somebody's changed so let me give you a clue
Why don't you love me like you used to do
Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' In a long, long while
We don't get nearer or further or closer than a country mile
Why don't you say the things you used to say
What makes you treat me like a piece of clay
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do
@ameliabetts5416
My husband has cancer and he has changed understandable so we make jokes and ol hank helped us along
Thanks and God Bless
@christopheranderson601
How's your husband now Amelia?
@GeorgeVreelandHill
Hank Williams - The King of Country.
@happyolddude
Agreed but to me he is king of music!
@psychwardsandcymbals2
stringbean akeman*
@juangalvan2930
Yes the king fuck the new country
@territurner8728
I grew up on his music...he is the king!
@Johnny-xw7mf
This so true wooooooo 🎶🎶🎶 wooooooo 🎶🎶🎶 Johnny from Alabama 🎶🎶🎶
@botzees
As kids we use to sing, "my eyes are still curly and my hair is still blue". :P
@Pentagonshark666
Old Hank had more talent in his little finger than THE WHOLE MUSIC INDRUSTY today have.