Ever since Hank Williams formed his first band, it was always called "The D… Read Full Bio ↴Ever since Hank Williams formed his first band, it was always called "The Drifting Cowboys". Through the years, the Drifting Cowboys was composed of different members at different times. The Original "Drifting Cowboys" Band, however, was made up of Jerry Rivers, Don Helms, Bob McNett and Hillous Butrum. Considered to be the 'Original band' because they were used on most of Williams' recordings. Here are the names of those that were, at one point or another, in Hank Williams' "Drifting Cowboys"...

Don Helms
Jerry Rivers
Bob McNett
Hillous Butrum
Sammy Pruett
Tommy Jackson
Chubby Wise
Jerry Byrd
Owen Bradley
Fred Rose
Tony Francini
Winston Todd
James Willis
Charles Wright
L.C. Crysel
Herman Herron
Slim Thomas
Buddy Attaway
Freddy Beach
Louis Brown
Tillman Franks
E.B. Fulmer
"Hardrock" Gunter
"Dobber" Johnson
Buddy Jolley
Grady Martin
Bubba "Cannonball" Nichols
Bernice Turner
Doyle Turner
Jimmy Porter
Lum York
R.D. "Sonny" Norred
Clent Holmes
Pee Wee Moultrie
Joe Pennington
Braxton Schufert
Red Todd
Zeb Turner
Zeke Turner
Ernie Newton
Cedric Rainwater
Willie Thawl
Clyde Baum
Rusty Gabbard
Farris Coursey
Billy Byrd
Leon Carter
"Curly" Corbin
Tom Davis
Jimmy Day
Jack Drake
Corolyn Parker
"Little Ed" Rawlins
Billy Robinson
Shorty Seals
Jimmy Selph
Guy Willis
Vic Willis
Skeeter Willis
Irene Williams
Audrey Williams
Clyde "Chris" Criswell
Dale Potter
Don Davis
Chet Atkins
Bill Drake
Jack Shook
Bill Lister
Brownie Reynolds
Felton Pruett
Neal McCormick
Dale Lohman
Lois Innis
Harold Bradley
Eddie Hill
Marvin Hughes
Floyd Chance
Charlie Mays
Sue Taylor
Hezzie Adair
"Boots" Harris
"Indian Joe" Hatcher
Tommy Hill
Herman Hurt
Autry Inman
M.C.Jarrett
Eland Smith
Oscar Sullivan
Bill Taylor
Jimmy Webster

Wedding Bells
Hank Williams and His Drifting Cowboys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have the invitation that you sent me
You wanted me to see you change your name
I couldn't stand to see you wed another
But dear I hope you're happy just the same

Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
That should be ringing out for you and me
Down the aisle with someone else you're walking

Those wedding bells will never ring for me

I planned a little cottage in the valley
I even bought a little band of gold
I thought some day I'd place it on your finger
But now the future looks so dark and cold

Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
I hear the children laughing out with glee
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
Those wedding bells will never ring for me

I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
And while the organ plays I love you truly
Please let me pretend that I am there

Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Ever since the day you set me free

I knew someday that you would wed another
But wedding bells will never ring for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hank Williams’s song “Wedding Bells” speaks about unrequited love and heartbreak. The opening lines tell the story of receiving an invitation from a former lover, who is getting married to someone else. The singer expresses his pain and disappointment at seeing someone he still loves marrying someone else. Despite the hurt, the singer wishes his former lover well and hopes she is happy.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the pain of watching someone you love walk down the aisle with someone else, knowing that you were once headed down the same path. The singer shares his hopes and dreams of building a life together with his former lover, but those dreams are now impossible. He must come to terms with the fact that he has lost the love of his life at the altar. The final verse describes the singer’s sense of longing as he imagines the scene of the wedding, smelling the roses and hearing the organ playing as he ‘sees’ the woman he loves marry another.

The song touched on a relatable theme of lost love and betrayal, and it was released in 1952. The song experienced commercial success, charting number one on the Country & Western Billboard chart for four weeks in a row. Over time it became one of the most well-known country ballads, covered by various artists, including Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris.

Line by Line Meaning

I have the invitation that you sent me
You sent me an invitation to your wedding.

You wanted me to see you change your name
You sent me an invitation to witness you take on your spouse's last name.

I couldn't stand to see you wed another
It would hurt me too much to see you marry someone else.

But dear I hope you're happy just the same
I hope you're happy, even though you're marrying someone else.

Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
The bells in the chapel are ringing to celebrate your marriage.

That should be ringing out for you and me
The bells should be ringing for us if we were getting married.

Down the aisle with someone else you're walking
You're walking down the aisle with someone else, not me.

Those wedding bells will never ring for me
The bells won't ring for me because we're not getting married.

I planned a little cottage in the valley
I had plans to build a home for us in the valley.

I even bought a little band of gold
I bought a ring for you.

I thought some day I'd place it on your finger
I hoped to propose to you one day and give you the ring.

But now the future looks so dark and cold
Now I feel sad and hopeless about our future together.

I hear the children laughing out with glee
I hear the sound of children happy about your marriage.

At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
I feel sad and lonely at home.

Those wedding bells will never ring for me
I'll never get to hear the wedding bells for my own wedding.

I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
I imagine seeing a bouquet of roses.

A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
I see you wearing a blossom flower in your hair, probably from an orange tree.

And while the organ plays I love you truly
I still love you deeply while the organ plays at your wedding.

Please let me pretend that I am there
Let me pretend that I'm at the wedding with you.

Ever since the day you set me free
You set me free when you chose to marry someone else.

I knew someday that you would wed another
I always knew that you would end up marrying someone else someday.

But wedding bells will never ring for me
Unfortunately, I'll never hear the wedding bells for my own wedding.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAUDE BOONE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS