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.
Only Daddy That Will Walk The Line
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Steppin' out of line and a messin' with my mind if you had any sense you'd quit
Cause ever since you were a little bitty teeny girl
You said I was the only man in this whole world
Bettter do some thinkin' then you'll find
You got the only daddy that'll walk the line
Walk the line walkin' the line
I keep a workin' every day all you want to do is play I'm tired of stayin' out all night
Cause ever since you were a little bitty teeny girl
You said I was the only man in this whole world
Bettter do some thinkin' honey you might find
You got the only daddy that'll walk the line
Walk the line walkin' the line walkin' the line
[Guitar Solo]
You keep a packin' up my clothes nearly everybody knows
That you're still just a puttin' me on
When I start a walkin' gonna hear you start a talkin'
And a beggin' me to come back home
Cause ever since you were...
The lyrics of Hank Williams Jr.'s Only Daddy That Will Walk The Line are about a man who is tired of his significant other's behavior and is reaching a breaking point in their relationship. The singer is expressing his frustration with his partner's disregard for his feelings and her tendency to prioritize her own desires over their relationship. The phrase "stepping on my toes" represents the partner's actions causing the singer's discomfort and annoyance. The line "if you had any sense you'd quit" implies that the partner is unaware or apathetic to the issues that are causing strain in their relationship.
Moreover, the line "you got the only daddy that'll walk the line" is referring to the singer's commitment to their relationship and his willingness to stay faithful even when the partner's actions are pushing him to the brink. The repetition of walking the line highlights the importance of staying true to one's values and commitments even when faced with challenges. The guitar solo in the middle of the song adds an extra element of emotion to the lyrics, emphasizing the singer's frustration and tension.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody knows you been steppin' on my toes and I'm gettin' pretty tired of it
I am aware that you have been causing unnecessary problems in my life and I am growing weary of it.
Steppin' out of line and a messin' with my mind if you had any sense you'd quit
Your actions are causing chaos and confusion in my life, and if you were wise, you would stop it.
Cause ever since you were a little bitty teeny girl
From the very moment you were born, and throughout your childhood...
You said I was the only man in this whole world
...you declared that I am the only man in your life.
Bettter do some thinkin' then you'll find
Perhaps you should do some introspection to...
You got the only daddy that'll walk the line
...realize and appreciate that you have a father who is responsible and committed to doing what is right.
I keep a workin' every day all you want to do is play I'm tired of stayin' out all night
I work hard every day, while you prefer to have fun and party all the time, and I am exhausted from staying out late with you.
I'm a comin' unglued from your funny little moods now honey baby that ain't right
Your unpredictable and fickle behavior is causing me to become unstable, and that is not acceptable.
You got the only daddy that'll walk the line
Once again, you should realize and be grateful that you have a father who is dependable and determined to do what is morally right.
[Guitar Solo]
No lyrics in this section
You keep a packin' up my clothes nearly everybody knows
You consistently gather my belongings to leave, and this behavior is widely known to others.
That you're still just a puttin' me on
You are still deceiving me and not showing your true intentions.
When I start a walkin' gonna hear you start a talkin'
Whenever I try to leave, you begin to plead and communicate with me.
And a beggin' me to come back home
You beg and implore me to return to our shared residence.
Cause ever since you were...
Once again, from your earliest years...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVY J BRYANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind