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.
Wild Side Of Life
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You asked me not to call you on the phone
But there's something I'm wanting to tell you
So I wrote it in the words of this song.
Chorus:
I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
And went back to the wild side of life.
The glamour of the gay night life has lured you
To the places where the wine and liquor flow
Where you wait to be anybodys baby
And forget the truest love you'll ever know.
It hurt me to know that you don't love me
Though I know that our love's forever gone
And it killed my soul and pride,dear, inside me
When I saw you in that strangers arms so long.
Chorus:
I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
You gave up the only one who ever loved you
And went back to the wild side of life.
I'll just live my life alone with mem'ries of you
And dream of kisses you traded for my tears
And no one will ever know how much I loved you
And I pray that you'll be happy through the years.
Chorus:
I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
You gave up the only one who ever loved you
And went back to the wild side of life...
The lyrics of Hank Williams's song Wild Side of Life are about a man lamenting the loss of his love to the wild side of life. He originally wrote letters to her and tried calling her, but she refused to communicate with him. In order to express himself, he wrote this song. The singer is hurt and confused by the fact that the woman he loves has chosen the wild and glamorous night life instead of staying with him. He recognizes that she will never make a wife and has given up the only person who loved her truly. Despite his heartache, he wishes her well and hopes that she will be happy in the future.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels" which means that the man is surprised that he fell in love with a woman who is drawn to the wild side of life. Honky-tonk is typically associated with country music and dance halls, which are often associated with drinking and wild behavior.
The verses describe how the singer feels like he has been abandoned by his true love. The woman he loved has been lured away by the glamour and allure of night life and has chosen to forget the truest love she ever knew. The singer is heartbroken to see her in someone else's arms and realizes that their love is forever gone. Despite this, he decides to live his life alone with memories of her and hopes that she will be happy in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
You wouldn't read my letters if I wrote you
You refuse to communicate with me through letters even if I tried to reach you that way.
You asked me not to call you on the phone
You requested that I don't contact you through phone calls.
But there's something I'm wanting to tell you
Despite your requests and lack of communication, I have something that I need to tell you.
So I wrote it in the words of this song
Therefore, I express my feelings and message through this song instead of being direct to you.
I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels
I never realized that God created women who frequent bars and nightclubs that cater to country music.
I might have known you'd never make a wife
I should have been aware that you were never going to become a good and loyal wife.
You gave up the only one who ever loved you
You abandoned the one person who truly cared and loved you.
And went back to the wild side of life
You returned to your former lifestyle that involves partying, drinking, and casual relationships instead of finding true love.
The glamour of the gay night life has lured you
You were enticed and hypnotized by the excitement and allure of the bar and club scene.
To the places where the wine and liquor flow
You were drawn to venues where alcohol is abundant and easily accessible.
Where you wait to be anybodys baby
You eagerly wait to meet anyone who will take you as their lover or partner.
And forget the truest love you'll ever know
You completely disregard and neglect the genuine and sincere love that I gave you.
It hurt me to know that you don't love me
It pains me to accept that you don't feel the same love for me as I do for you.
Though I know that our love's forever gone
Even though I understand that our love is over and will never return.
And it killed my soul and pride, dear, inside me
Your actions and choices have caused me immeasurable pain and destroyed my sense of self-worth and confidence.
When I saw you in that strangers arms so long
My heart shattered into pieces when I witnessed you intimately holding another person who I didn't know for an extended period.
I'll just live my life alone with mem'ries of you
I'll live my life independently without a partner, but with fond remembrances of you as a lover.
And dream of kisses you traded for my tears
I'll imagine the kisses you gave to others instead of me that made me cry and mourn our relationship.
And no one will ever know how much I loved you
No one will ever comprehend the extent and depth of my love for you.
And I pray that you'll be happy through the years
I hope that you'll find happiness and contentment in your future experiences and endeavors.
I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels
I never realized that God created women who frequent bars and nightclubs that cater to country music.
I might have known you'd never make a wife
I should have been aware that you were never going to become a good and loyal wife.
You gave up the only one who ever loved you
You abandoned the one person who truly cared and loved you.
And went back to the wild side of life.
You returned to your former lifestyle that involves partying, drinking, and casual relationships instead of finding true love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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