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.
Mind Your Own Business
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
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'Cause me and that sweet woman's got a license to fight
Why don't you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
'Cause if you mind your business, then you won't be mindin' mine
Oh, the woman on our party line's the nosiest thing
She picks up her receiver when she knows it's my ring
(Mind your own business)
Well, if you mind your business, then you won't be mindin' mine
I got a little gal that wears her hair up high
The boys all whistle when she walks by
Why don't you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
Well, if you mind your own business, you sure won't be minding mine
If I want to honky tonk around 'til two or three
Now, brother that's my headache, don't you worry 'bout me
Just mind your own business
(Mind your own business)
If you mind your business, then you won't be mindin' mine
Mindin' other people's business seems to be high-toned
I got all that I can do just to mind my own
Why don't you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
If you mind your own business, you'll stay busy all the time
The lyrics of Hank William's song "Mind Your Own Business" reflects the desire for privacy and independence. The singer begins by stating that he has the right to argue with his wife, as they have a bond that is strong enough to weather their quarrels. He then speaks of the nosy woman on their party line, who listens in on their conversations. The singer sarcastically advises her to concentrate on her own life instead of meddling in theirs, suggesting that she has nothing better to do.
The second verse speaks of the singer's attractive girlfriend who attracts a lot of attention from other men. Once again, he advises outsiders to mind their own business and let him handle his own affairs. The final verse alludes to the general theme of the song with a reflection on the high societal value placed on delving into other people's lives. The singer concludes that he has enough on his plate trying to "mind his own business," and suggests that others do the same.
Overall, "Mind Your Own Business" is a humorous and lighthearted take on the negative consequences of nosiness and meddling, particularly in the context of personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
If the wife and I are fussin', brother that's our right
It’s natural for a couple to have disagreements, and others should respect their privacy.
'Cause me and that sweet woman's got a license to fight
We are committed to staying together and working through our problems.
Why don't you mind your own business?
Stop being intrusive and keep your attention directed towards yourself.
(Mind your own business)
Stop worrying about what others are doing and focus on your personal affairs.
'Cause if you mind your business, then you won't be mindin' mine
If you respect my privacy, I will respect yours.
Oh, the woman on our party line's the nosiest thing
Our nosy neighbor always eavesdrops on our phone calls.
She picks up her receiver when she knows it's my ring
She purposely listens in on our conversations for information.
Well, if you mind your business, then you won't be mindin' mine
If you don't intrude on my life, I won't intrude on yours.
I got a little gal that wears her hair up high
I have a girlfriend who is attractive and gets a lot of attention.
The boys all whistle when she walks by
Men can't resist her beauty and often show their admiration.
Well, if you mind your own business, you sure won't be minding mine
If you stay out of other people's affairs, you will have more time for your own.
If I want to honky tonk around 'til two or three
If I want to go out and have fun until late, it's my decision.
Now, brother that's my headache, don't you worry 'bout me
It's my problem to deal with, and you shouldn't be concerned.
Just mind your own business
Stop prying and focus on your own life.
If you mind your business, then you won't be mindin' mine
If you don't interfere in my life, I won't interfere in yours.
Mindin' other people's business seems to be high-toned
It's seen as sophisticated to be aware of others' affairs.
I got all that I can do just to mind my own
I have enough to deal with in my own life, and I don't have time to worry about others.
If you mind your own business, you'll stay busy all the time
If you focus on your own life, you'll have enough to keep you occupied without involving yourself in others' affairs.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Williams Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind