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.
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who thinks I do no wrong
But sometimes, Lord, she just ain't always around
And you know that's when I fall
Now I can't help myself at all
And I get whiskey bent and hell bound
Play me some songs about a ramblin' man
'Cause you know I love to hear those guitar sounds
Don't you play, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
'Cause I'll get all balled up inside
And I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound
Sure enough about closin' time
'Bout stoned out of my mind
And I end up with some honkytonk special I found
Just as sure as the mornin' sun comes
Thinkin of my sweet girl at home
And I need to get whiskey bent and hell bound
Play me the songs about a ramblin' man
Put old Jim Beam in my hand
'Cause you know I still love to get drunk
And hear country sounds
But don't you play, "Your Cheatin' Heart"
'Cause that'll tear me all apart
I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound
Yeah, old Hank's songs
Always make me feel low down
The lyrics of Hank Williams Jr.'s "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" are a testament to the struggle between a man's loyalty to his family and his passion for nightlife. The singer speaks of his inner turmoil, admitting he has a "good woman at home" who loves him, but when she's not there, he falls prey to his demons. He speaks of his love for the guitar sounds and how he craves the feeling of being whiskey bent and hell bound, a metaphor for recklessness and impulsiveness that accompanies heavy drinking. The singer is self-aware but unable to control his urges, feeling powerless and consumed by his desires.
The song's message is about the struggle between responsibility and recklessness, a theme that has been prevalent in country music for decades. It highlights the temptation that exists when someone is torn between the love of their family and the lifestyle they crave, ultimately questioning where true happiness lies. The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer is trapped in his own behavior and is unable to break free from the cycle of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a good woman at home
I have a faithful wife who believes I can do no wrong
Who thinks I do no wrong
She is convinced that I never make any mistake
But sometimes, Lord, she just ain't always around
But sometimes my wife leaves me alone and not there when I need her
And you know that's when I fall
And that's when I give in to temptation
Now I can't help myself at all
I can no longer control myself
And I get whiskey bent and hell bound
And I end up getting drunk and engaging in reckless behavior
Play me some songs about a ramblin' man
Play me some songs about a man who wanders aimlessly
Put a cold one in my hand
Give me a cold alcoholic drink
'Cause you know I love to hear those guitar sounds
Because I enjoy listening to the guitar sounds
Don't you play, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
But please avoid playing the song that makes me feel sad
'Cause I'll get all balled up inside
Because that will make me emotionally unstable
And I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound
And I'll end up getting drunk and reckless
Sure enough about closin' time
Definitely, when it's time to close the bar
'Bout stoned out of my mind
When I'm completely intoxicated
And I end up with some honkytonk special I found
And I find myself with someone I picked up from a nearby bar
Just as sure as the mornin' sun comes
Just like the morning sun rises
Thinkin of my sweet girl at home
Thinking about my wife who loves me unconditionally
And I need to get whiskey bent and hell bound
And I have an irresistible urge to drink and act irresponsibly
Play me the songs about a ramblin' man
Play me more songs about a man who wanders aimlessly
Put old Jim Beam in my hand
Give me a drink of Jim Beam whiskey
'Cause you know I still love to get drunk
Since you know I still love getting intoxicated
And hear country sounds
And I love the good old country music
But don't you play, "Your Cheatin' Heart"
However, please avoid playing the song about cheating
'Cause that'll tear me all apart
Because that would upset me greatly
I'll get whiskey bent and hell bound
And I'll end up getting drunk and losing control of myself
Yeah, old Hank's songs
Yeah, the songs of Hank Williams Sr.
Always make me feel low down
Always make me feel sad and low-spirited
Lyrics © BOCEPHUS MUSIC INC
Written by: Hank Williams Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marlaharrod4524
I am a 62 year old woman. I love my whiskey and listening to the good old country music!
@PatriciaWyzga-mz6bm
66 years old and love country music and Jim beam
@joshhunter7421
this type of music makes me even more proud to be from the south
@shelly2599
Yes we still have manners say Sir and Ma'am and have respect some of the nicest people are from the South 💯🇱🇷🙏 have a good one y'all don't forget to eat food should be shared 8/24/21
@ViolentCriminalOrganization
fuckin right
@nancychamberlin6520
He cracks me up. Always makes me smile. Those little guitar twangs are everything. He is his father’s son with a great sense of humor.
@michaelsherman3527
you aint lied!!
@stupidmonkey-wo8sz
Before someone comments saying "who's listening in 2020" we will be listening till 2040 guaranteed. Even if youtube is gone.
@claygordon2852
Absolutely I won't stop listening to this, my kids will damn sure know who my country heroes are
@josiahquincy2744
I passed away back in 2032 ; still listening .