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 Curb’s 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 4×4 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.
Lookin' for a Mountain
Hank Williams III Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah I got a heavy load thats been hauntin' my day
Fightin' my own demons
Seems like its getting a lot harder these days
But I'm doin' what I can runnin' from my crazy ways
Tattooed and branded, shootin' down fame, don' it my own way
Livin' like and outlaw, lovin' all the pain and the hard times comin' my way
Busted and held for ransome
Yeah I've don my time gettin' beat by the man
Drifin' stoned and lonesome
Yeah I know how to get by the best that I can
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain to wash my dirty hands
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain that I wanna call home
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain, a place to rest my bones and I just wanna breath that mountain air til I'm gone
Runnin' on empty, I been speedin' so hard my eyes are turnin' gray
Feelin' mean and shaky from all the hellraisin' I've done for today
Now I'm headin' down south tryin to find a better way
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain that I wanna call home
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain a place to rest my bones
Yeah I know I been ridin high and that made mama cry cause I been busted my whole damn life
I been busted my whole damn life
I been busted....yeah I know how to run, I know how to survive cause I been busted my whole damn life.
The lyrics of "Lookin' for a Mountain" by Hank Williams III express the struggles of the singer who is running away from his inner demons and trying to find solace in the mountains. The song talks about the weight that the singer carries, from his troubled past to his challenging present. The heavy load is shown to have haunted him and made it harder for him to fight his inner demons. However, the singer is still trying to mend his ways and run away from his crazy ways, even though it's tough.
The next few lines describe the singer's life as an outlaw, expressed through tattoos and brandings. He walks away from fame and chooses to live through hard times, accepting pain and challenges that come his way. Though he has been held for ransom and beaten by the man, he has still managed to navigate through life on his own terms. The singer now looks for a mountain to call home, to wash his dirty hands, rest his bones, and breathe in mountain air until he is gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Runnin for the mountains
I am trying to escape my problems by heading towards the mountains.
Yeah I got a heavy load thats been hauntin' my day
The emotional baggage from my past is weighing me down and affecting my daily life.
Fightin' my own demons
I am struggling with my inner demons and trying to overcome them.
Seems like its getting a lot harder these days
It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep my demons at bay.
But I'm doin' what I can runnin' from my crazy ways
I am trying to distance myself from the self-destructive behaviors of my past.
Tattooed and branded, shootin' down fame, don' it my own way
I have embraced my own unique style and rejected the mainstream lifestyle and expectations.
Livin' like and outlaw, lovin' all the pain and the hard times comin' my way
I am living like a renegade, embracing the hard times and pain that come with it.
No I'm not losin' myself to the changin' ways of today
I am determined to stick to my own ways of life and not change for anyone else.
Busted and held for ransome
I have been arrested and held captive by the authorities.
Yeah I've don my time gettin' beat by the man
I have served my time in jail and been mistreated by the authorities.
Drifin' stoned and lonesome
I am aimlessly wandering around while under the influence of drugs and feeling isolated.
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain to wash my dirty hands
I am searching for a place to start anew and let go of my past mistakes.
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain that I wanna call home
I am seeking a home that belongs to me and where I can belong.
Yeah I'm lookin' for a mountain, a place to rest my bones and I just wanna breath that mountain air til I'm gone
I am searching for a place where I can peacefully spend the rest of my days and enjoy the fresh air of the mountains.
Runnin' on empty, I been speedin' so hard my eyes are turnin' gray
I am exhausted both physically and emotionally from my past and current lifestyle.
Feelin' mean and shaky from all the hellraisin' I've done for today
I am feeling aggressive and jittery due to my reckless behavior earlier today.
Now I'm headin' down south tryin to find a better way
I am going down south to explore for a better path in life.
Yeah I know I been ridin high and that made mama cry cause I been busted my whole damn life
I acknowledge that my rebellious and risky lifestyle has caused my mother concerns, and it has resulted in me being arrested multiple times.
I been busted my whole damn life
I have been in trouble with the law for most of my life.
Yeah I know how to run, I know how to survive cause I been busted my whole damn life.
I can handle difficult situations and come out alive because I have been in trouble with the law for so long.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Teardown Garage
LYRICS BELOW:
Runnin’ (runnin’) for the mountains,
Yeah, I got a heavy load, that’s been haunting my days.
Fightin’ (fightin’) my own demons,
Seems like it’s getting’ a lot harder these days.
But I’m doin’ what I can, running from my crazy ways.
Tattooed (tattooed) and branded,
Shootin’ down fame, doin’ it my own way.
Livin’ (livin’) like an outlaw,
Lovin’ all the pain and the hard times comin’ my way.
No, I’m not losin’ myself to the changin’ ways of today.
Busted (busted) and held for ransom,
Yeah, I’ve done my time, getting’ beat by the man.
Driftin’ (driftin’) stoned and lonesome,
Yeah, I know how to get by the best that I can.
Yeah, I’m lookin’ for a mountain to wash my dirty hands.
Yeah, I’m lookin’ for a mountain, that I wanna call home.
Yeah, I’m lookin for a mountain, a place to rest my bones.
And I just wanna breathe that mountain air until I’m gone.
yeah, I just wanna breathe that mountain air until I’m gone.
Runnin’ (runnin’) on empty,
I been speedin’ so hard my eyes are turnin’ gray.
Feelin’ (feelin’) mean and shakey,
From all the hell raisin’ that I’ve done for the day.
Now, I’m headin’ down south tryin’ to find a better way.
Yeah, I’m lookin’ for a mountain, that I wanna call home.
Yeah, I’m lookin for a mountain, a place to rest my bones.
Yeah, I know I’ve been ridin’ high, and I made momma cry,
‘Cos I been busted my whole damn life.
Yeah, I know I’ve been ridin’ high, and I made momma cry,
‘Cos I been busted my whole damn life.
And I been busted my whole damn life.
yeah, I been busted my whole damn life.
Well, I been busted my whole damn life.
Well, I been busted...
Yeah, I know how to run…
I know how to fly…
(‘cos I been busted, my whole damn life.)
Chandler Sorrells
When it comes time for the Lord to take me by my hand, I want THIS song played at my memorial
N H
This is one of my favorite songs - ever!
Teardown Garage
LYRICS BELOW:
Runnin’ (runnin’) for the mountains,
Yeah, I got a heavy load, that’s been haunting my days.
Fightin’ (fightin’) my own demons,
Seems like it’s getting’ a lot harder these days.
But I’m doin’ what I can, running from my crazy ways.
Tattooed (tattooed) and branded,
Shootin’ down fame, doin’ it my own way.
Livin’ (livin’) like an outlaw,
Lovin’ all the pain and the hard times comin’ my way.
No, I’m not losin’ myself to the changin’ ways of today.
Busted (busted) and held for ransom,
Yeah, I’ve done my time, getting’ beat by the man.
Driftin’ (driftin’) stoned and lonesome,
Yeah, I know how to get by the best that I can.
Yeah, I’m lookin’ for a mountain to wash my dirty hands.
Yeah, I’m lookin’ for a mountain, that I wanna call home.
Yeah, I’m lookin for a mountain, a place to rest my bones.
And I just wanna breathe that mountain air until I’m gone.
yeah, I just wanna breathe that mountain air until I’m gone.
Runnin’ (runnin’) on empty,
I been speedin’ so hard my eyes are turnin’ gray.
Feelin’ (feelin’) mean and shakey,
From all the hell raisin’ that I’ve done for the day.
Now, I’m headin’ down south tryin’ to find a better way.
Yeah, I’m lookin’ for a mountain, that I wanna call home.
Yeah, I’m lookin for a mountain, a place to rest my bones.
Yeah, I know I’ve been ridin’ high, and I made momma cry,
‘Cos I been busted my whole damn life.
Yeah, I know I’ve been ridin’ high, and I made momma cry,
‘Cos I been busted my whole damn life.
And I been busted my whole damn life.
yeah, I been busted my whole damn life.
Well, I been busted my whole damn life.
Well, I been busted...
Yeah, I know how to run…
I know how to fly…
(‘cos I been busted, my whole damn life.)
Denise Plantenga
Just good music. Period. He's a true musician, pursing through his veins with a burning not even moonshine could compete with.
Andro Libre
his best song in my opinion
J. Smith
I just wanna breathe that mountain air until I'm gone
Erik Ast
Its late 2019 and I really hope the reason he disappeared is because he found that mountain.
Bas-Canada Préparatiste&Survivaliste
wife and kids , i think he turn in to his familly
Ghastly_Grinner
Maybe he saw the commie cough comming?
dragon slayer995
It's 2020 now and we need him to come back cause 2020 definitely needs something good to happen!