The grandson of Hank Williams and the son of Hank Williams Jr., he spent much of his early years playing drums in metal and punk rock bands. In 1996, child support payments led Hank III to sign a contract with Music City giant Curb. Three Hanks: Men With Broken Hearts was issued shortly thereafter, which brought the voices of all three generations of Williams men together. While this may seem to be a nice beginning, it was quite different from what Hank III himself desired musically. Despite having been born in Nashville, Tennessee, Hank III has never had a preference for mainstream country.
While his name (and his uncanny vocal and physical resemblances to his grandfather) could have guaranteed him a thriving country audience, he had no patience for the often predictable Nashville sound, nor for even the minimal constraints on behavior his promoters required. His opinions on this subject are well summed up in the songs "Trashville" and "Dick in Dixie".
His first album on his own, titled Risin' Outlaw, was released in September 1999. Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' was released in 2002. He had a great deal of trouble with his label Curb Records, with incidents as extreme as their unwillingness to either release his appropriately named This Ain't Country LP, nor allow him to issue it alone, and his selling of "F*** Curb" T-shirts. Battles with Walmart had delayed the release of his third studio album, titled Straight To Hell, which will be released on Feburary 28th as a two-disc in two formats: a clean version (for Wal-Mart), and an uncensored version, which will be the first country album to bear a parental advisory sticker on the cover.
He plays country with his "damn band" and produces a rather different sound with Assjack, which is a metalcore/psychobilly band. He is also the Bass guitarist in Superjoint Ritual, with former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo. Superjoint Ritual has since disbanded but III is still working with Anselmo on one of his many side-projects (like arson anthem, mentioned below).
A number of "sub-sub-genres" have been coined describing his original sound, such as hard-twang, slacker swing, hellbilly, and honky punk.
Hank III has recorded the tracks "87 Southbound", "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs", as well as "Why Don't You Leave Me Alone", which were penned by Wayne Hancock, a musician who is often compared to him.
Hank III enjoys an extremely loyal grassroots fan base and much of his success can be attributed to his taper friendly stance regarding the audio/videotaping of his frenetic live shows which has been his main promotional vehicle considering the lack of attention paid to his promotion by the Curb Record label.
The Damn Band/Assjack also featured fiddle player extraordinaire Michael "Fiddleboy" McCanless who would play both sets, the traditional country set of the concert and then come back and plug his fiddle into a distortion box and saw away during the metal set. Sadly his talent left this world on February 3, 2003 after losing a battle with cancer, of which the cry of "Fuck Cancer" came out of Hank III's "Fuck Curb" campaign.
In late 2004 Thrown Out of the Bar was slated for release, but Curb opted not to issue it. Williams and label executive Mike Curb would be in and out of court for the next year before a judge ruled in favor of Williams in the spring of 2005, demanding that Curb release the album. Shortly thereafter Williams and Curb came to terms, and Williams dropped his "Fuck Curb" campaign. Bar was reworked into Straight to Hell, released on Curbâs rock imprint, Bruc. Battles with Wal-Mart delayed the appearance of this album, which was released on February 28, 2006 as a two-disc set in two formats: a censored version (for Wal-Mart), and an uncensored version that was the first major-label country album ever to bear a parental advisory warning. One of the songs, "Louisiana Stripes" was written by a little-known Alabama teenager named Jeremy Cummings, who originally released the song on his 2004 debut CD Country Bullshit.
Williams recently played drums for Arson Anthem, formed with Phil Anselmo and Mike Williams of the sludge band Eyehategod.
Williams released his long awaited punk-metal album AssJack on August 4, 2009.
His next album, Rebel Within, was released in May 2010. It charted at number 20 in Billboard magazine.
Williams' former label Curb Records released Hillbilly Joker on May 17, 2011; this is his last release with the label. Williams had been involved in a long contract dispute with his Curb Records after the company refused to release his punk inspired CD This Ain't Country. Several of the songs on Hillbilly Joker had been available as bootlegs, some of them for nearly ten years.
On June 23, 2011, it was posted on III's personal Facebook that he would be releasing four new CDs on September 6, 2011. It said to expect Country, Doom-Rock, Speed Metal with Cattle Callin' on the releases. It also said that they would be released on III's own record label Hank III Records. Entitled Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town (a 2-disc country record with some ambient and folk influences), 3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin' (a metal record in the newly anointed cattle core genre) and Attention Deficit Domination (a doom-rock record), these new albums were released on Williams's own record label Hank3 Records through Megaforce Records, and feature guest appearances by Tom Waits, Les Claypool (Primus), Alan King (Hellstomper), Ray Lawrence Jr., Troy Medlin (Sourvein), Dave Sherman (Earthride) and Williams' dog, Trooper.
On March 4, 2013, on Williams's web site, it was announced that he is working on two new albums. It has been confirmed that there are at least 25 new songs. On May 3, 2013, Williams released the names of two new albums: a country album Brothers of the 4Ă4 and punk album A Fiendish Threat, under the band name "3".
On July 6, 2018, Williams was featured on DevilDriver's cover of his song "Country Heroes", which appears on their album Outlaws 'til the End: Vol. 1. On May 24, 2021 he released a cover of the David Allan Coe song "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" on his YouTube channel. On July 31, 2021 Williams shut down his online store. In 2021, Williams' son, Coleman Finchum, changed his last name to Williams began recording and releasing music under the moniker "IV". He formed a band known as "IV and the Strange Band". Their debut album, Southern Circus, was released in June 2022.
On Sunday 18th September 2022, he released a number of new songs on his YouTube channel.
Gettin' Drunk and Fallin' Down
Hank Williams III Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has taken its toll on me
I like livin' life full throttle
But now it seems like i'm runnin' outta steam
I'll never give up on havin' fun
And raisin' hell in tennesse
I like a good time livin' on the run
With my good friend misery
'cuase gettin' drunk
And fallin' down
I'd say i'm known
All over town
It's the kind of livin'
That's gonna put me in the ground
Gettin' drunk
And fallin' down
Well i did my best to stay
On the good side of the tracks
But my friend billy joe's
Done got me drinkin' back outta the paper sack
And now i'm here drinkin'
All alone at the bar
Buck owens a-singin'
About his honky-tonk scar
'cuase gettin' drunk
And fallin' down
I'd say i'm known
All over town
It's the kind of livin'
That's gonna put me in the ground
Gettin' drunk
And fallin' down
Gettin' drunk
And fallin' down
The lyrics of Hank Williams III's "Gettin' Drunk and Fallin' Down" are about the consequences of living life to the fullest and the toll it can take on a person. The singer admits that he loves living life full throttle, but it seems like he's running out of steam. He never gives up on having fun but acknowledges that getting drunk and falling down has taken its toll on him.
The song's chorus reinforces this theme, expressing that the singer is known all over town for his wild lifestyle and that it's the kind of living that's going to put him in the ground. He also references his friend Billy Joe, who has gotten him back to drinking out of a paper sack, a habit he had managed to quit before. The song ends with the singer drinking alone at the bar, listening to Buck Owens sing about his own honky-tonk scars.
Line by Line Meaning
Gettin' drunk and fallin' down
My habit of getting overly intoxicated and stumbling has become a frequent occurrence in my life
Has taken its toll on me
The negative effects of my behavior are beginning to catch up with me
I like livin' life full throttle
I am someone who enjoys living life to the fullest and taking risks
But now it seems like i'm runnin' outta steam
However, I am beginning to feel burnt out and lack the energy to keep up with this lifestyle
I'll never give up on havin' fun
Although I recognize the dangers of my behavior, I refuse to give up on the thrill of it all
And raisin' hell in tennesse
I enjoy causing chaos and trouble in my home state of Tennessee
I like a good time livin' on the run
My preferred lifestyle involves constantly being on the move and never staying in one place for too long
With my good friend misery
I am accompanied on this journey by my constant companion, Misery
'cause gettin' drunk
The reason for my troubles is my habit of excessive drinking
And fallin' down
Which often leads me to lose balance and stumble
I'd say i'm known
My behavior has made me well-known in my community
All over town
As my reputation for reckless behavior has spread throughout the area
It's the kind of livin'
My lifestyle is a dangerous one
That's gonna put me in the ground
And it is likely to lead to my untimely demise
Well i did my best to stay
I have made an effort in the past to stay away from trouble
On the good side of the tracks
And stay on a more responsible and respectable path
But my friend billy joe's
However, my friend Billy Joe has encouraged me to indulge in my reckless behavior
Done got me drinkin'
And I have given in to his influence and resumed my drinking habits
Back outta the paper sack
Which involves drinking cheap and low-quality alcohol
And now i'm here drinkin'
As a result, I find myself once again drinking at a bar
All alone at the bar
Feeling isolated and alone in my addiction
Buck owens a-singin'
Listening to country music legend Buck Owens sing at the bar
About his honky-tonk scar
Reminiscing about his past experiences in the country music industry
Gettin' drunk
Returning to the harmful behavior that has caused me so much trouble
And fallin' down
Which will likely lead to more negative consequences in the future
Gettin' drunk
Continuing the cycle of reckless behavior and addiction
And fallin' down
Despite the harm it is causing myself and those around me
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Skinny Redneck
I absolutely HATED hank 3 when I first heard him (have no idea why). But I kept listening to his shit and 3 years later, I love his music. I've watched his interviews and he seems like the nicest guy. His musical taste is so wide range and I love that. Music is music. A good song is a good song. To all you haters, I'd like to say: give him a chance and actually listen to his shit. He'll grow on you. He's the real deal man
Tim McArdle
I love your open minded views on music. Tells me you're also open minded in other areas which is a good thing.
đŻ That American Revolution Chick â€
Even though I'm now sober I can still totally relate to this song. Plus I love the fiddle! Gotta love Hank 3!!! :-)
Silas Ginell
Vanity Activist/Singer/Dancer/Author admit it you had a beer or somethin
SS-Eade
Who couldn't love this song?
Hank the 3rd for president.
Grave Master
still living life full throttle
Aramach
Is that "Striborg" like the band?
JRCinKY
Hank Williams lives again.....
The REAL one
scradleeee
This the best tune I heard .takin my soul all over town too!
RowdyMajor18
Been sober for 4 months, and yep I lived out this song. I can totally relate.