Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as Hank Wil… Read Full Bio ↴Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as Hank Williams Jr. or alternatively as Hank Jr. or Bocephus, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and country. He is the son of country music singer Hank Williams; the half-brother of Jett Williams; and the father of Hank Williams III, Holly Williams, Hilary Williams, Sam Williams, and the late Katherine Williams-Dunning.

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.

Tearin' It Up
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All the talk shows, you know, geniuses and experts

Lookin' to lay some blame

Some on the left and some on the right

Playin' that controversy game

I'm not in a real cheery mood so I think I'll call them up

And them 'em, why don't you play some blues

And both sides shut up

But do we just love trouble

Ain't the world got enough without y'all stirrin' it up?

I am from the old school

Cowboy hat, sure enough

Too damn old to change horses now

'Cause I would probably fall off

I'm a little whiskey bent and slowed my roll

And if you ain't real sure about me

Why don't you take it up with Gretchen, Tim

And rockin' Sean Hannity

But you just love trouble

Ain't the world got enough without y'all stirrin' it up?

Back off

So some celeb has teed y'all off

Well, I get teed off too

Why didn't you know that you're supposed

To accept our point of view?

I have learned at the school of hard knocks

Things change quite a bit

Now when other folks get all jacked up

I don't really give a, darn

I got a little child and a fishing pole

A can of worms and a boat

I'm goin' down to the river now

And let all my problems float

Yeah, I've mellowed a lot

And I don't jump into things like I used to

Hey, what'd you say? Why you son of a gun

Now see what you made me do

I don't want no trouble

Ain't the world got enough without y'all stirrin' it up

Stirrin' it up

Let the pot simmer

(Stirrin' it up)

Let the dust settle

(Stirrin' it up)

Let's try to get along

And it'll be more better

(Stirrin' it, stirrin' it, stirrin' it up)

(Stirrin' it up)

Sick 'em, Rush!

(Stirrin' it up)

Jump in there, Bill

Stir it up, Sean

(Stirrin' it up)

(Stirrin' it up)

Overall Meaning

In "Tearin' It Up," Hank Williams Jr. expresses his frustration with the abundance of controversy and blame game that is prevalent in society, particularly in the realm of talk shows and media. He criticizes the so-called "geniuses and experts" who are quick to lay blame on either the left or the right, fueling controversy for their own entertainment and ratings. Hank Williams Jr. suggests that instead of playing into this divisive game, it would be more beneficial for these platforms to focus on playing the blues and for both sides to quiet down.

As an artist from the old school, Hank Williams Jr. feels rooted in his traditional values and unwilling to change his perspective at this stage in his life. He humorously acknowledges that he may not be as adaptable as he once was, as changing horses now would likely result in him falling off. He describes himself as "whiskey bent and slowed my roll," indicating that he has a more laid-back attitude and is less easily riled up. He also alludes to fellow figures such as Gretchen, Tim, and Sean Hannity, who presumably share his sentiment and are also tired of the constant stirring of controversy.

Hank Williams Jr. addresses those who might be offended or upset by a celebrity's point of view, highlighting that he, too, gets "teed off." He questions why it is not understood that different people have different perspectives and that it is not necessary for everyone to agree. Having learned from his own life experiences, Hank Williams Jr. has become more detached from the conflict of others, emphasizing that he no longer cares much when others get upset. He finds solace in simpler pleasures, like spending time with his child, fishing, and escaping his problems by letting them float away in a river.

Towards the end of the song, Hank Williams Jr. acknowledges that he used to be more impulsive and quick to jump into things, but he has since mellowed out. However, the lyrics take a comedic turn when he playfully responds to an unknown comment with a sarcastic "why you son of a gun, now see what you made me do." Through this line, he suggests that provocation from others can still incite a reaction, albeit a less intense one.

In the closing lines, Hank Williams Jr. urges for a more harmonious approach. He calls for the pot to simmer, the dust to settle, and for people to try to get along. The repetition of "Stirrin' it up" suggests a weariness with the constant stirring of controversy and a longing for a more peaceful and cooperative world. The mentions of Rush, Bill, and Sean are likely references to popular conservative media personalities Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity, further emphasizing the need for unity and understanding among different viewpoints.

Line by Line Meaning

All the talk shows, you know, geniuses and experts
The multitude of talk shows filled with self-proclaimed geniuses and experts

Lookin' to lay some blame
Seeking to assign fault

Some on the left and some on the right
Blaming both political sides

Playin' that controversy game
Engaging in the game of creating controversy

I'm not in a real cheery mood so I think I'll call them up
Feeling displeased and considering calling them to express my frustration

And them 'em, why don't you play some blues
Ask them why they don't focus on soothing music instead

And both sides shut up
Instructing both sides to remain silent

But do we just love trouble
Do we have an inherent love for creating problems

Ain't the world got enough without y'all stirrin' it up?
Isn't the world already filled with sufficient challenges without their instigations?

I am from the old school
I adhere to traditional ways

Cowboy hat, sure enough
Wearing a true cowboy hat

Too damn old to change horses now
Too old to switch my opinions or stance

'Cause I would probably fall off
As it would likely result in confusion or failure

I'm a little whiskey bent and slowed my roll
I'm slightly intoxicated and have slowed down my pace of life

And if you ain't real sure about me
If you have doubts or uncertainties regarding me

Why don't you take it up with Gretchen, Tim
You should discuss it with Gretchen and Tim instead

And rockin' Sean Hannity
And the dynamic Sean Hannity

But you just love trouble
However, you seem to genuinely enjoy causing turmoil

Ain't the world got enough without y'all stirrin' it up?
Isn't the world already filled with sufficient challenges without your instigations?

Back off
Step away or retreat

So some celeb has teed y'all off
So some celebrity has angered all of you

Well, I get teed off too
Well, I also get irritated or angered

Why didn't you know that you're supposed
Why weren't you aware that you are expected

To accept our point of view?
To embrace our perspective?

I have learned at the school of hard knocks
I have acquired knowledge through difficult experiences

Things change quite a bit
Things undergo substantial transformations

Now when other folks get all jacked up
Nowadays, when others become agitated or excited

I don't really give a, darn
I honestly don't care much at all

I got a little child and a fishing pole
I have a young child and a fishing rod

A can of worms and a boat
A container of bait and a boat

I'm goin' down to the river now
I'm heading towards the river at this moment

And let all my problems float
And allow my problems to drift away

Yeah, I've mellowed a lot
Yes, I have become much calmer and more relaxed

And I don't jump into things like I used to
And I no longer rush impulsively as I did in the past

Hey, what'd you say? Why you son of a gun
Hey, what did you just say? You tricky person

Now see what you made me do
Now observe the action you compelled me to take

I don't want no trouble
I don't desire any conflict

Ain't the world got enough without y'all stirrin' it up
Isn't the world already filled with sufficient challenges without your instigations?

Stirrin' it up
Provoking or causing disruption

Let the pot simmer
Allow the situation to calm down slowly