Williams began his career following in his famed father's footsteps, covering his father's songs and imitating his father's style. Williams' first television appearance was in a 1964 episode of ABC's The Jimmy Dean Show, in which at age fourteen he sang several songs associated with his father. Later that year, he was a guest star on Shindig!.
Williams' style evolved slowly as he struggled to find his own voice and place within country music. This was interrupted by a near-fatal fall off the side of Ajax Peak in Montana on August 8, 1975. After an extended recovery, he challenged the country music establishment with a blend of country, rock, and blues. As a multi-instrumentalist, Williams' repertoire of skills includes guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, steel guitar, banjo, dobro, piano, keyboards, saxophone, harmonica, fiddle, and drums.
From 1989 through October 2011, his song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight", refashioned as "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night", had been used to open broadcasts of Monday Night Football until it was pulled after Williams made controversial comments comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. The song returned to open the show in 2017.
On August 12, 2020, Williams was selected to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Williams' early career was guided, some say outright dominated, by his mother Audrey Williams, who many claim was the driving force that led his father to musical superstardom during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Audrey, in many ways, wished for young Hank to be nothing more than a "Hank Williams, Sr. impersonator", sometimes going as far as to have clothes designed for him that were identical to his father's stage clothes and vocal stylings very similar to those of his father.
Although Williams' recordings earned him numerous country hits throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, he became disillusioned with his role as a 'Hank Williams clone' and severed ties with his mother in order to pursue his own musical direction and tastes. After recording the soundtrack to Your Cheatin' Heart, a biography of his father, Williams, Jr. hit the charts with one of his own compositions, "Standing in the Shadows". The song signalled a move to rock and roll and other influences as he stepped from the shadow of his father.
Also during this time, Williams had his first two No. 1 songs: "All For the Love of Sunshine" (1970, featured on the soundtrack to Kelly's Heroes) and "Eleven Roses" (1972).
By the mid-1970s, Williams had finally found the musical direction that would, eventually, make him a superstar. Williams' unique blend of traditional country with southern rock and blues earned him a devoted following, although some mainstream country radio stations wouldn't touch his new songs in this blatantly untraditional sound.
While recording a series of hit songs, Williams began abusing drugs, including alcohol and eventually tried to commit suicide in 1974. Moving to Alabama, Williams began playing music with Southern rock musicians Toy Caldwell, Marshall Tucker Band and Charlie Daniels, and others.
His last major success was "There's a Tear in My Beer", a duet with his father created using electronic dubbing techniques. The song itself was written by his father, presumably, sometime between 1950 and 1953 and was recorded with Hank Williams playing just his guitar. The music video for the song combined existing television footage of Hank Williams performing and the dubbing techniques transferred the image of Hank Jr. onto the screen, so it appeared as if he were actually playing with his father. The video was an overwhelming success, both critically and commercially. It was named Video Of The Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country music. Hank Williams, Jr. would go on to win a Grammy award in 1990 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
Despite his slumping album sales, Hank Williams Jr. continued to be a popular concert draw during the early 1990s and continued to record, with several of his recordings during this time still managing to achieve gold status, selling 500,000 copies.
He is probably best known today as the performer of the theme song for Monday Night Football, based on "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight". The opening theme became a classic, as much a part of the show as the football itself. In 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994, Williams' opening themes for Monday Night Football would earn him four Emmy awards.
Williams opened for Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006, on ABC and was in the stands as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
On April 10, 2006, CMT honored Williams with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, presenting it to him at the 2006 CMT Music Awards.
On November 11, 2008, Williams was honored as a BMI Icon at the 56th annual BMI Country Awards. The artists and songwriters named BMI Icons have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers".
In 2011, Williams was named one of "Seven Living Legends" of his native Shreveport, Louisiana, by Danny Fox (1954–2014) of KWKH radio. Others named were Bob Griffin of KSLA and KTBS-TV and James Burton. Two others cited, Claude King and Frank Page, both died in 2013.
In 2015, Hank Williams Jr. was Inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
Attitude Adjustment
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the bar the other night
And he got a little drunk
And he wanted to fight
And he jumped up
And challenged every man in the room
And just about the time he got the words out
An 'ol boy jumped up and closed his mouth
And his butt for a broom
It was an attitude adjustment
I guess it was his first time
An attitude adjustment
Now he understands just fine
He got bent out of shape
And he opened his mouth
And just one appointment
Straightened him right out
It was an attitude adjustment
Oh It'll work every time
Well I've got this big 'ol brother-in-law
And me and him just never did get along
Because he wants to make sure
I'm treating his sister right
He got drunk one night
And started beating me up
And I went and got a tire tool
Out of my truck
And laid him out as cold as a block of ice
It was an attitude adjustment
And it will work every time
An attitude adjustment
I made him see the light
And he says I'm his kind of man
And he comes around with his hat in his hand
It was an attitude adjustment
I cured all his family pride
Now my girlfriend slapped me in the face
I said darlin' that was you're first mistake
Then she went wild and her eyes turned red
She started breaking everything
And screaming loud
And kickin' me and cussin' me out
And I gave her a little adjustment
On the top of the head
It was an attitude adjustment
Now she loves on me all the time
Just an attitude adjustment
She got a whole new frame of mind
She don't nag
And I don't beg
And we get along and like I said
Just an attitude adjustment
Oh everything's just fine
Well almost
She called the cops to take me in
And I said you're never gonna do it friend
And they just smiled
And said "Oh Yes We Will"
Now a stick to the head
And some kicks in the chin
And a several bites from Rin Tin Tin
And I couldn't wait to get into that jail
It was an attitude adjustment
Oh I went along peacefully
Attitude adjustment
Oh they made me clearly see
Cause my head is black
And my legs are blue
And both knee caps are bent clean through
It was an attitude adjustment
It made my whole outlook brand new
Just a attitude adjustment
It made my whole outlook brand new
The song "Attitude Adjustment" by Hank Williams Jr. is a lighthearted take on the idea of using physical force to adjust someone's attitude. The lyrics explore three different scenarios where the singer uses violence to correct a person's behavior or attitude. In the first verse, the singer describes a friend who gets drunk and starts picking fights. Another person in the bar puts him in his place, thus adjusting his attitude. In the second verse, the singer recounts a fight with his brother-in-law, whom he beats with a tire tool. This altercation leads to a newfound respect and admiration from the brother-in-law. Finally, in the last verse, the singer talks about his girlfriend's explosive behavior and how he gave her an "attitude adjustment" on the top of the head. The result is that she now behaves well and doesn't nag him, though she does call the cops to arrest him.
The song, while controversial due to the glorification of violence, is ultimately a humorous take on the idea of adjusting someone's attitude. It can also be interpreted as a commentary on the idea that violence begets violence, as every scenario ends with the singer being on the receiving end of violence himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I met an old friend
The singer met an old friend at a bar
In the bar the other night
The encounter occurred at night in the bar
And he got a little drunk
The friend was slightly under the influence of alcohol
And he wanted to fight
The friend was instigative and looking for a brawl
And he jumped up
The friend physically stood up, becoming hostile
And challenged every man in the room
The friend verbally threatened everyone present in the area
And just about the time he got the words out
The friend had barely made the challenge
An 'ol boy jumped up and closed his mouth
A patron quickly intervened and stopped the friend from continuing to threaten violence
And used his head for a mop
The intervening patron physically restrained the friend using force
And his butt for a broom
The intervening patron controlled the situation easily, rendering the friend powerless
It was an attitude adjustment
The intervention was used to adjust the friend's hostile demeanor
I guess it was his first time
The intervention was effective in transforming the friend's behavior who has never previously experienced such a situation
Now he understands just fine
The friend now understands that his aggressive behavior has consequences and is no longer acceptable
He got bent out of shape
The friend had become uptight with a hostile attitude
And he opened his mouth
The friend provoked everyone in the room with his words
And just one appointment
The physical intervention directed the friend's attention to the seriousness of his behavior
Straightened him right out
The physical intervention effectively reformed and calmed the friend's demeanor
Oh It'll work every time
The singer believes that physical intervention is the only cure for a hostile demeanor
Well I've got this big 'ol brother-in-law
The singer has a brother-in-law who is physically imposing
And me and him just never did get along
The artist and his brother-in-law have a history of conflict
Because he wants to make sure
The brother-in-law considers it his responsibility to ensure that the artist is sincere in treating his sister well
I'm treating his sister right
The artist is responsible for treating the brother-in-law's sister well
He got drunk one night
The brother-in-law became drunk one night
And started beating me up
The brother-in-law physically attacked the artist
And I went and got a tire tool
The singer found a heavy tool nearby to defend himself
Out of my truck
The tool was available in the singer's vehicle
And laid him out as cold as a block of ice
The singer effectively subdued the brother-in-law with an overpowering blow from the tool
I made him see the light
The artist successfully used physical force to transform the brother-in-law's behavior
And he says I'm his kind of man
The brother-in-law now respects the artist and his ability to defend himself
And he comes around with his hat in his hand
The brother-in-law now exhibits humility and submission when interacting with the singer
It was an attitude adjustment
The physical intervention against the brother-in-law resulted in a change of attitude
I cured all his family pride
The brother-in-law's family would no longer be haughty towards the artist as he now had the fear of physical retaliation
Now my girlfriend slapped me in the face
The artist's girlfriend physically attacked him by slapping his face
I said darlin' that was your first mistake
The artist warned the girlfriend of her error in physically attacking him
Then she went wild and her eyes turned red
The girlfriend became enraged and experienced an episode of aggression
She started breaking everything
The girlfriend engaged in destruction of property in reaction to her rage and anger
And screaming loud
The girlfriend vocalized her anger towards the singer
And kickin' me and cussin' me out
The girlfriend physically attacked the singer's person by kicking him and cursing at him
And I gave her a little adjustment
The physical intervention stopped the girlfriend's physical attack
On the top of the head
The intervention was a light knock on her head
Now she loves on me all the time
The girlfriend affectionately expresses love towards the artist now
She got a whole new frame of mind
The girlfriend underwent an attitude shift, becoming much more loving and non-violent
She don't nag
The girlfriend no longer complains or nags about the singer
And I don't beg
The artist no longer has to beg the girlfriend for anything
Just an attitude adjustment
The intervention transformed the girlfriend's hostile demeanor
Oh everything's just fine
The artist's relationship with the girlfriend has improved dramatically
Well almost
The singer implies that there is an ongoing problem despite the improvement in behavior
She called the cops to take me in
The girlfriend called the police on the artist
And I said you're never gonna do it friend
The singer unsuccessfully tried to deter the alleged arrest
And they just smiled
The police officers responded to the situation with amusement
And said "Oh Yes We Will"
The police officers inform the singer that the arrest will still happen despite his objections
Now a stick to the head
The police force used a baton to violently control the artist's person
And some kicks in the chin
The police officers physically attacked the artist's face and body
And several bites from Rin Tin Tin
The police K-9 unit joined the attack, biting and attacking the singer's person
And I couldn't wait to get into that jail
The singer wanted to escape the police brutality and the attack from the K-9 unit by welcoming the jail sentence
It made my whole outlook brand new
The artist believes the physical violence he received was effective, and changed his attitude
Just an attitude adjustment
The physical violence against him created an attitude shift in the artist
It made my whole outlook brand new
The artist believes his whole perspective is fresh and positive after the traumatic experience
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HANK JR. WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind