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 Curbβs 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 4Γ4 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.
Smoke
Hank Williams III Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just a hillbilly hell-raiser; I'm tryin' to kill my time.
An' I'm lookin' for that gal, about five foot ten.
An' I'm gonna take her down that road of livin' a life of sin.
Because I'm drinkin', druggin': I'm havin' lots of fun.
I always carry round my loaded shotgun.
If I think I'm gonna have a bad time,
I got a little bit of smoke an' a whole lotta wine.
-Instrumental break-
Well, I once had this gal: I thought she'd be my bride.
But then she had to leave my ass for that other guy.
An' now I'm drinkin', druggin': I'm havin' lots of fun.
I always carry round my loaded shotgun.
If I think I'm gonna have a bad time,
I got a little bit of smoke an' a whole lotta wine.
-Instrumental break-
Well, I don't really care if you hate me, you see,
'Cause I'm just a country boy from the state of Tennessee.
A little bit crazy, on the loudish side,
'Cause I like drink my whiskey an' I like to get high.
An' now I'm drinkin', druggin': I'm havin' lots of fun.
I always carry round my loaded shotgun.
If I think I'm gonna have a bad time,
I got a little bit of smoke an' a whole lotta wine.
The lyrics to Hank Williams III's song "Smoke & Wine" chronicle the life of a hillbilly who's down on his luck but is determined to have fun regardless. The opening lines express contentment in one's low financial status, suggesting that happiness cannot be bought. The singer describes himself as a hell-raiser who's looking to indulge in a life of sin. His idea of fun is drinking, drugging, and carrying a loaded shotgun, which can suggest that he's living dangerously.
The lyrics also allude to a relationship gone sour, which has led to the singer's wild behavior. He recalls a time when he thought he'd marry a girl, but she left him for someone else. This heartbreak seems to have fueled his hedonistic tendencies. The singer is also unapologetic about his lifestyle, saying that he doesn't care if people hate him because he is who he is. He proudly identifies as a country boy from Tennessee who likes to drink and get high.
Overall, the lyrics to "Smoke & Wine" convey a sense of reckless abandon and disregard for conventional norms, mixing country and rock elements that are the hallmark of Hank Williams III's unique brand of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I have got no money but I am doin' fine.
Despite my lack of financial resources, I am content with my current situation.
I'm just a hillbilly hell-raiser; I'm tryin' to kill my time.
I'm a rebellious person from rural origins who is trying to pass the time.
An' I'm lookin' for that gal, about five foot ten.
I'm searching for a woman who is approximately five feet and ten inches tall.
An' I'm gonna take her down that road of livin' a life of sin.
I intend to lead her down the path of living an immoral life.
Because I'm drinkin', druggin': I'm havin' lots of fun.
I'm engaging in substance abuse for entertainment purposes.
I always carry round my loaded shotgun.
I always have my firearm on-hand for protection or aggression.
If I think I'm gonna have a bad time,
If I anticipate having an unpleasant experience,
I got a little bit of smoke an' a whole lotta wine.
I have some marijuana and a large quantity of alcohol to ease the discomfort.
Well, I once had this gal: I thought she'd be my bride.
I used to have a girlfriend whom I believed I would marry.
But then she had to leave my ass for that other guy.
But she left me to be with another man.
Well, I don't really care if you hate me, you see,
I'm not concerned if you despise me because,
'Cause I'm just a country boy from the state of Tennessee.
I'm just a simple rural resident from the state of Tennessee.
A little bit crazy, on the loudish side,
I'm a bit eccentric and extroverted.
'Cause I like drink my whiskey an' I like to get high.
Because I enjoy drinking whiskey and using drugs to alter my consciousness.
If I think I'm gonna have a bad time,
If I anticipate having an unpleasant experience,
I got a little bit of smoke an' a whole lotta wine.
I have some marijuana and a large quantity of alcohol to ease the discomfort.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHELTON HANK WILLIAMS III
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
G T2281
This entire album was my soundtrack to the Bar nights! Still love it even though Iβve cut back on the booze. Long live Hank 3!!!!
Damian Penn
Never liked much country music, but this might b my new favorite
Harley Minks
Should also give his song Dick in Dixie a listen if you haven't.
gristlelick
Listen to some Johnny Cash (Folsom and San Quentin Prison albums are fucking amazing), Waylon Jennings, or Hank Williams (the first), or for a more recent group that truly captures the spirit of Country, Bluegrass, and Americana Roots, check out Old Crow Medicine Show. Country can be (and is) far better than the pop-rock bullshit you hear on the radio masquerading around as country artists.
Warning Manager
+Arthur Compton dude I agree people fuxked up the whole country music
Orange Joe
County music doesn't have to suck, my friend! It's only been made to suck by the pop-country corporate tools that have taken over.
I'd sooner eat the barrel of a shotgun than listen to pop-country, but I've got Hank III blasting most days.
Samsquantch 541
The guitar playing in this song is so incredible! Not to mention the drummer keepin up and the rest of the band.
Moon Lockwood
that's Johnny Hiland tearing it up. ferocious.
Stella Blue
He's so talented. This is the only "kuntry" I will listen to.
CommentaThor
Let's not forget Wheeler Walker, Jr., Orville Peck and Casualties of Cool