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.
Window Shopping
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just window shoppin'
You're only lookin' around
You're not buyin'
You're just tryin'
To find the best deal in town
You give away your kisses
To anyone who's fool enough to fall
You don't feel love
You don't want real love
You're window shoppin', that's all
You're window shoppin'
Just window shoppin'
You're only lookin' around
You're not buyin'
You're just tryin'
To find the best deal in town
You give away your kisses
But you never give your heart
To anyone who's fool enough to fall
You don't feel love
You don't want real love
You're window shoppin', that's all
In Hank Williams's song "Window Shopping," the singer is criticizing a woman who is only interested in superficial things and is not capable of real love. The metaphor of window shopping is used to describe the woman's behavior. She is only looking around and not buying anything, which means that she is not committing herself to anyone. She is trying to find the best deal in town, which suggests that she is not interested in relationships based on true emotions but rather on material benefits.
The first verse suggests that the woman is not looking for real love, but only for attention. She gives away her kisses, but never her heart, which implies that she is not capable of forming a genuine emotional connection with anyone. The second verse reinforces this idea by saying that the woman doesn't feel love and doesn't want real love. This suggests that she is emotionally detached and unable to connect with others on a deeper level.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the emptiness of materialism and the importance of genuine emotions in relationships. The use of the metaphor of window shopping is particularly effective in illustrating the shallow nature of the woman's behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
You're window shoppin'
You're not actually going to buy anything, just walking around and looking at things.
Just window shoppin'
You're just looking at things through the window, without actually going inside or making a purchase.
You're only lookin' around
You're just browsing casually, not seriously considering any products.
You're not buyin'
You're not actually planning on making a purchase.
You're just tryin'
You're simply attempting to find the best available option.
To find the best deal in town
You're searching for the product with the best value, i.e., a low cost or high quality.
You give away your kisses
You're very affectionate and freely express physical intimacy with others.
But you never give your heart
You don't truly feel love, only physical attraction.
To anyone who's fool enough to fall
You're not interested in a true emotional connection, only in those who are blinded by their physical attraction to you.
You don't feel love
You don't actually have romantic feelings for anyone.
You don't want real love
You're not interested in genuine, deep relationships.
You're window shoppin', that's all
You're just flirting with people and not interested in anything serious.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARCEL JOSEPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexandre Rodrigues
I remember when I first discovered this a few years ago, just when I was feeling blue and bitter because of a girl who didn't want anything with me anymore. Crappy times, but I still really enjoy this song, and many other songs by Hank
Jojo Valdez
Alexandre
Way back when 8 Track tapes used to exist and my pops was alive he listened to Hank Williams Elvis and some oldies
I remember this old song
Lembit Punapart
Hank was the GREATEST country musicians that ever lived, second is Merle Haggard.
Bob C
A great song by the great Hank Williams which you really don't hear all that much. Thanks for adding it.
Don Hawkins
this reaches my soul---
heard this on radio in 1950's tennessee..
joe toole
Would of loved to hear this on the old tube radios ...Have an old tube radio 📻 but hank doesn't come through no more 🤣
laraine hendrix
Don Hawkins i
packrat Buggs
Damn , here is another real country song.
MR CLEAN
Great lesser known Hank Sr Song Thanks for sharing always liked this tune,Cheers,Keith Thumbs Up
Cheddar Ferguson
my grandpa's favorite song RIP WOODROW 12_18_04