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.
Your Cheatin' Heart
Hank Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will make you weep
You'll cry and cry
And try to sleep
But sleep won't come
The whole night through
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
When tears come down
Like falling rain
You'll toss around
And call my name
You'll walk the floor
The way I do
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
Your cheatin' heart
Will pine some day
And crave the love
You threw away
The time will come
When you'll be blue
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
When tears come down
Like falling rain
You'll toss around
And call my name
You'll walk the floor
The way I do
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
The song "Your Cheatin' Heart" is a classic country and western track by Hank Williams that was released in 1953, just months after his death. It is a song about the consequences of infidelity in a romantic relationship. Williams sings about how the cheater will eventually be caught and how they will feel the pain of what they've done. He warns them that their "cheatin' heart will make you weep" and "tell on you." In the second verse, he describes how the cheater will be consumed with thoughts of their partner and unable to sleep, just as he is. The final verse suggests that one day the cheater will regret their actions and realize the love they lost.
The lyrics of "Your Cheatin' Heart" offer a vivid portrayal of the heartache caused by betrayal. Williams' use of imagery is particularly effective. The line "When tears come down like falling rain" paints a picture of the intensity of the emotion involved. The repetition of the phrase "Your cheatin' heart" throughout the song emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of the pain the cheater will experience.
Overall, "Your Cheatin' Heart" is a timeless classic that captures the essence of romantic betrayal. It is a reminder that actions have consequences, and that dishonesty can destroy even the strongest relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Your cheatin' heart
The person addressed in the song is being called out for their infidelity
Will make you weep
The guilt and shame from cheating will cause the person to cry
You'll cry and cry
The tears won't stop flowing, indicating deep remorse for the actions taken
And try to sleep
Despite exhaustion, sleep won't come easily due to the weight of the situation
But sleep won't come
The person will struggle to get any rest due to their troubled conscience
The whole night through
The unrest and worry will persist throughout the night
Will tell on you
The consequences of their cheating will catch up to them eventually
When tears come down
The tears symbolize the pain caused by their actions
Like falling rain
The tears won't stop coming, much like a downpour of rain
You'll toss around
Their guilt will cause them to be restless and uncomfortable
And call my name
They may try to seek comfort from the person they cheated on, but it won't erase their mistake
You'll walk the floor
Unable to find peace, they will pace in despair
The way I do
The singer knows all too well the pain caused by infidelity
Will pine some day
The person will regret their actions and yearn for what they lost
And crave the love
They will miss the love that they carelessly threw away
You threw away
Their infidelity caused them to lose the one they loved
The time will come
They will face the consequences of their actions one day
When you'll be blue
They will be sad and full of regret
Will tell on you
The guilt and reality of their cheating will catch up to them in the end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zuzannawisniewska8339
Who else appreciates such legendary Hank Williams songs ?? ...from Fort Worth, Texas.
@saddlebum38
Howdy, I am 82 years old & I have listened to HANK's songs from his beginning to the end
and I have loved every minute of it! George
@Mr.Cynical92
It's so crazy that they recorded this song in 1 take! This song was an instant masterpiece!
@genodabat9797
I agree wholeheartedly, imagine that two open reel tapes or what we now call reel to reel then gets pressed as a 45. Today our pop and country singers and musicians use voice and pitch correct and have a sound tech working a 32 track or more board. The ones that can't sing at all sing over a larenjectomy tube or just use an algorythem. All that great music back in the day done on monochrome. We still have a lot of great musicians today but, they're not being hired. The industry has managed to dumb down young listeners.
@josephwrichard2643
Exactly
@marlenechurch
Love him great song
@lancegardner8560
Dude was a legend.
@josephgent3196
ol' billy hilly Billy
@user-uv7qe8zl1d
My daddy could sang just like him!!! He was his idol!!! My daddy was born in 1936. He could never play an instrument but he could sing
@MarcosBryant-mr7jw
What do you admire most about Hank