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 Old Wheel
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it does it will even up the score
Don't be weak, as they sew, they will reap
Turn the other cheek and don't give in
That old wheel will roll around again
When love is gone and the one you thought would stay
Does you wrong, and you're left alone to pay
But somehow you'll survive, don't give in
That old wheel will roll around again
There'll be times, hard to control
And you'll find you'll hurt down in your soul
There'll be those who'll be glad to see you down
But don't give in, that old wheel will roll around again
Roll around, around, again, again
These lyrics by Johnny Cash in That Old Wheel can be interpreted as a message of hope and perseverance. The old wheel refers to the cycle of life and karma and that no matter how difficult life may seem, things will eventually even out. The message is to not give up, even when faced with heartbreak, betrayal, and disappointment.
The first verse talks about how the old wheel will come around again, and when it does it will even up the score. This can be interpreted as having faith in the universe and that justice will prevail, even if it may take time. It also advises against revenge and retribution and instead suggests turning the other cheek and not letting negativity consume us.
In the second verse, Cash sings about the pain of lost love and being left to pay the price. However, he also suggests that we will survive and not give in. This can be seen as a message to have faith in ourselves and that we are capable of overcoming even the toughest of situations. The third verse talks about how there will always be those who are glad to see us down, but the key is to not give up and to know that the old wheel will once again roll around and bring us back up.
Overall, That Old Wheel can be interpreted as a song about resilience, hope, and karma. It encourages the listener to keep pushing through the tough times, and to have faith that things will eventually work out.
Line by Line Meaning
That old wheel is gonna roll around once more
Life has its ups and downs and what goes around comes around. The wheel symbolizes the cycle of life.
When it does it will even up the score
When things come full circle, justice is served, and balance is restored.
Don't be weak, as they sew, they will reap
Don't let others take advantage of you because in the end, they will have to face the consequences of their actions.
Turn the other cheek and don't give in
Forgive those who wronged you, and don't let their actions control you. Keep moving forward.
When love is gone and the one you thought would stay
When a relationship ends and your partner leaves you behind, it can be painful and difficult to accept.
Does you wrong, and you're left alone to pay
When someone betrays you, it's not fair, and you're often left to deal with the consequences.
The price is high
The cost of betrayal can be expensive, both emotionally and financially.
But somehow you'll survive, don't give in
Despite the pain, you will find a way to move on from the experience. Don't let the other person's actions defeat you.
There'll be times, hard to control
Life is unpredictable and challenging. There are times when you will feel helpless and unable to influence the situation.
And you'll find you'll hurt down in your soul
These difficult situations can cause emotional pain and leave an impact deep within you.
There'll be those who'll be glad to see you down
Unfortunately, there are people who take pleasure in seeing others fail or struggle. Don't let their negativity affect you.
But don't give in, that old wheel will roll around again
Don't let these difficult times bring you down. Remember that life has its cycles, and things will get better eventually.
Roll around, around, again, again
The wheel of life keeps turning, and the ups and downs will continue. It's essential to stay strong and move forward through each cycle.
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: JENNIFER EMBER PIERCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Justin Wiseman
Now there's a song that resonates in the soul. God Bless country music.
nemesisgenius
Very inspiring song for those who hit rock bottom like I have. This song is keeping me going in my roughest times mentally and financially.
Jackie Wilburn
Written by a good friend of mine Conrad Pierce. I got the honor of playing on his last album and we recorded this song. RIP old friend
Java Renee
Johnny Cssh and Hank Williams Jr, two of the best!!! Am I right????
caroline bjerkelund
Yes they both changed music....good chess question...Good for you,
you're right.
𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝔹𝕒𝕓𝕪𝕝𝕠𝕟
waylon jennings and willie nelson
Chev O'Coileáin
Man what a great tune.
MrFreshbreeze50
Just hit GOLD on the "Best of Johnny Cash" album. Written by Jennifer Ember Pierce.
nemesisgenius
This country classic should have been a #1 Billboard country hit for Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Jr. back in 1988. Peaked at #20 late that year.
MrSteelerfan58
This is a great song, thanks for posting!