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.
Be Careful Who You Love
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I sat down beside him and bought him a drink
I bought him another and finally some color
Returned to his cheeks, and he said with a wink
Son, I worked for Red Foley, knew Hank and Old Lefty
I worked on the Opry back when I was strong
But in showbiz you know sometimes it gets slow
So you buy us another and I'll sing you a song
Be careful who you love, be sure she loves you too
The opening verse of the song "Be Careful Who You Love" by Hank Williams Jr. tells the story of a chance encounter between the singer and an old guitar picker who has run out of liquor. The singer buys the old man a drink and the two strike up a conversation. The old man tells the singer that he used to work for Red Foley and knew Hank and Old Lefty. He also reveals that he used to work on the Opry when he was strong. However, despite all of the success he has seen in the music business, the old man warns the singer to be careful who he loves.
The chorus of the song reminds us that love can be untrue and that we should be careful about giving our heart away. The old man's advice is to make sure that the person you love feels the same way about you. The song seems to be suggesting that the music business is full of people who are looking to take advantage of others, and that this applies to love as well. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling in love with the wrong person.
Overall, "Be Careful Who You Love" is a song that combines Hank Williams Jr.'s storytelling skills with his love of traditional country music. The song is a reminder that even in the world of showbiz, where things can move at a breakneck pace, we should still take the time to be careful with our hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
The old guitar picker had run out of liquor
I noticed that the man playing the guitar was out of alcohol and seemed down, so I sat next to him and offered to buy him a drink.
So I sat down beside him and bought him a drink
I sat beside him and bought him a beverage to lift his spirits and help him feel better.
I bought him another and finally some color
After purchasing another drink, I noticed that the man's skin color had returned to normal, indicating that the alcohol was making him feel better.
Returned to his cheeks, and he said with a wink
With some healthy color back in his cheeks, the man thanked me and gave me a playful wink.
Son, I worked for Red Foley, knew Hank and Old Lefty
The man introduced himself and told me that he had previously worked for several famous musicians, including Red Foley, Hank Williams Sr., and Lefty Frizzell.
I worked on the Opry back when I was strong
He also mentioned that he had worked at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville during his younger, more physically-able years.
But in showbiz you know sometimes it gets slow
He then explained that the entertainment industry can sometimes have quiet periods where there is little work available.
So you buy us another and I'll sing you a song
He asked me to buy us another drink, and in return, he offered to play a song on his guitar for me.
Be careful who you love, for love can be untrue
The lyrics of his song advise listeners to be cautious when choosing whom to love, as that love may not always be reciprocated or genuine.
Be careful who you love, be sure she loves you too
He warns his audience to ensure that the person they love also loves them, highlighting the importance of mutual feelings when it comes to romantic relationships.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Desert Viking
When Hank covers a song, it's better than the original.
Perry Watson
Hank and ftiends: Tuesday gone: nailed IT AND SIMPLY MAN WHOLE ALBUM AWESOM
Leonm Waldner
i could listen to this song all day long
LB Sammy
Love this song!
Michael McGee
HANK.. The Man.. The Myth.. The Legend…❤
Derstea Phillips
Hank is a legend country singer.....
Bobby Skyler
i realize I am kinda randomly asking but does anyone know of a good website to stream newly released series online?
Paula Copher
I think this song is so cute! I play it ever morning! Love you Bocepus!
Jayden Wemple
my daddy showed me the song... I love it
France Aviation
The only thing I know is that I love this song