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.
That's How They Do It In Dixie
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long blonde hair an' dark brown roots.
Lord, pinch me:
That's how they do it in Dixie.
Electric slidin' on a sawdust floor,
Long-neck chaser for a,
Shot of hard core whiskey:
Blue red "GO" stickers on the window says "Sugar n' spice.
Baby, crank the bass up, ride it till you see, girl.
Those pink paradise.
Oh, ain't that nice.
Down to the river to go for a dip.
Rollin' them Levis off of her hip.
Goin' Big Kenny skinny:
That's how they do it in Dixie.
Splish-splash.
Instrumental Break.
Watermelon lip-gloss, kiss beneath the swamp moss,
On a moonlit night.
Bubble gum perfume, well placed tattoo,
Above her hiney, high.
(Oh my.)
Belly button danglin', a twenty minute tan.
You know, I'll go to Jerry Springer if you hit on my man.
That girl will throw a hissy.
That's how they do it in Dixie.
Cut-off jeans an' cowboy boots,
Long blonde hair an' dark brown roots.
Lord, pinch me:
That's how they do it in Dixie:
Yeah, yeah now.
Y'all, that's how we do it in Dixie.
Whoo I love them girls man.
In Dixie.
That's how they do it in Dixie.
That's right, class, that's how we do it in Dixie.
Y'all, that's how we do it in Dixie.
Bocephus, it's a pleasure.
Let's get into the honky-tonk.
Aw, had some good ridin' friends on this one.
Hank Williams Jr.'s song "That's How They Do It In Dixie" describes the way of life in the southern United States. The song describes the southern style of dressing, the way people dance, and the way they listen to music. The line, "cut-off jeans and cowboy boots, long blonde hair and dark brown roots" describes how people dress in the southern US, with cut-off jeans and cowboy boots being the attire of choice for many. The song also depicts how people dance in the south, with "electric slidin' on a sawdust floor" being a common sight in southern honky-tonks. Furthermore, the lyrics capture the southern affinity for alcohol, with the line "long-neck chaser for a, shot of hardcore whiskey," suggesting that drinking is a common pastime in the region.
Given the southern penchant for cars, the song includes a reference to "blue red 'GO' stickers on the window says 'Sugar n' spice." It is not clear what the reference means, but it could be interpreted as a description of a southerner's car. The southern adoration for lavish parties is also a subject of the song, with the lyrics quoting, "Baby, crank the bass up, ride it till you see, girl. Those pink paradise." The song also mentions a romantic encounter by the river with a girl wearing cut-off jeans and describes her beauty, tattoo, and belly button as well as her short temper. The lyrics reveal that the way people act in Dixie differs from how it is elsewhere, which is why the song is meant to celebrate the southern way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut-off jeans an' cowboy boots,
The people in Dixie dress in casual, comfortable attire such as cut-off jeans and cowboy boots.
Long blonde hair an' dark brown roots.
The people in Dixie may have blonde hair, but they also include those with dark brown roots.
Lord, pinch me:
The singer cannot believe what he is seeing and is using an expression to emphasize his amazement.
That's how they do it in Dixie.
This phrase is repeated throughout the song to highlight all the unique things that people do in Dixie.
Electric slidin' on a sawdust floor,
People in Dixie enjoy line dancing activities like the Electric Slide on sawdust floors.
Long-neck chaser for a,
Drinks are commonly chased with beverages like long-necked beers in Dixie.
Shot of hard core whiskey:
Whiskey is a favored drink in Dixie and is often taken as a quick shot.
Blue red "GO" stickers on the window says "Sugar n' spice.
Stickers on car windows can display slogans such as 'Sugar n' spice.'
Baby, crank the bass up, ride it till you see, girl.
When music is played in Dixie, the bass is typically turned up high and the listener may ride the beat through the song.
Those pink paradise.
Cars in Dixie can be pink and be seen as a luxurious paradise.
Down to the river to go for a dip.
People frequently go for a swim in the river or other natural bodies of water in Dixie.
Rollin' them Levis off of her hip.
A way to change clothes before going swimming in Dixie is to roll pants off of the hips, such as Levi jeans.
Goin' Big Kenny skinny:
Some people in Dixie swim without clothing, such as Big Kenny.
That's how they do it in Dixie.
This phrase is repeated throughout the song to highlight all the unique things that people do in Dixie.
Splish-splash.
Onomatopoeia is used to indicate the sound of people swimming.
Watermelon lip-gloss, kiss beneath the swamp moss,
People in Dixie may use flavored lip gloss and engage in romantic activities in areas like the swamp.
On a moonlit night.
This phrase sets the scene for the romantic activities that are taking place in Dixie.
Bubble gum perfume, well placed tattoo,
Women in Dixie may use bubble gum-scented perfume and have tattoos in visible areas of their body.
Above her hiney, high.
Tattoos in Dixie can be found on areas like the lower back, often referred to as the 'hiney.'
(Oh my.)
The singer is again expressing his amazement or excitement over what he is seeing.
Belly button danglin', a twenty minute tan.
People in Dixie may have tans that are achieved over a shorter period and enjoy wearing jewelry like belly button rings.
You know, I'll go to Jerry Springer if you hit on my man.
If someone is caught flirting with someone else's partner in Dixie, it may lead to physical altercations or airing out the issue on talk shows like Jerry Springer.
That girl will throw a hissy.
Women in Dixie are known to react strongly when provoked or upset, often resulting in a 'hissy fit.'
That's how they do it in Dixie.
This phrase is repeated throughout the song to highlight all the unique things that people do in Dixie.
Y'all, that's how we do it in Dixie.
The singer is creating a sense of community by saying 'we' to include himself as a part of the Dixie lifestyle.
Whoo I love them girls man.
The singer is expressing his admiration for the women in Dixie.
In Dixie.
The song is specifically talking about the culture and lifestyle of the American South, particularly the region known as Dixie.
That's how they do it in Dixie.
This phrase is repeated throughout the song to highlight all the unique things that people do in Dixie.
That's right, class, that's how we do it in Dixie.
The singer is inviting the listener to join in on the Dixie lifestyle.
Y'all, that's how we do it in Dixie.
The singer is creating a sense of community by saying 'we' to include the listener as part of the Dixie lifestyle.
Bocephus, it's a pleasure.
The singer is addressing his friend Bocephus and expressing his pleasure for the time they have spent together.
Let's get into the honky-tonk.
The singer and his friend are going to a honky-tonk, a type of establishment typically found in the southern United States, featuring live country music and dancing.
Aw, had some good ridin' friends on this one.
The singer is expressing his enjoyment of the song and referencing his group of friends as 'ridin' friends.'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear, Mark Irwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MonkeyBoo
Southern women are the BEST!
@FishAndBits1
Yes boi
@terricksmith8754
Yes sir they are
@jodysams4880
damn straight home grown hotties
@cpsclan2447
Northern country chicks are damn fine
@jeffscott8323
You got that right
@bwr3rd
Hank, Jr., Big & Rich, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Gretchen Wilson...what a combo! American by birth...Southern by the grace of God! Yeeehaaaa!
@connerlackey3952
Donnie is .38 Special not Lynyrd Skynyrd
@wildestcowboy2668
Gretchen is a Yankee but I get what's u be sayin playa
@gallery0924
That's van Zant