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Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr.


Background information
Birth name Randall Hank Williams
Born May 26, 1949
Born place Shreveport, Louisiana, US
Genre(s) Country
Outlaw country
Southern Rock
Country Rock
Years active 1957—present
Label(s) Curb Records
MGM Distribution
Website Website



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Hank Williams Jr. Album


Luke the Drifter, Jr. (1969)
1969
1.
2.
3.
The Glass
4.
5.
6.
7.
Uncle John
8.
9.
Help Me Understand
10.
11.
. . .


(There'll be peace in the valley for him how we pray
I was with Red Foley the night he passed away)
We was down in Port Wayne Indiana the night the Lord took Red away
And we had to get there a little early cause we had a matinee
And when Red first went on stage it seemed that he moved and talked a little slow
But of course he went on to do his regular great show
So soon the afternoon show was over with and we all went down the street and ate
Red said he wasn't very hungry but he came along anyway
And we got done eaten and came back to the last show
But the thing just would be Red's very last well who's to know
And when he went on the stage for his own ten thousandth time
We was all back to the curtains there just shootin' the lines
But when he sang Peace In The Valley there was such a quiet still
I know I'll never forget it and anyone that was there never will
Well soon the last show was over with
And I went back to the hotel and Red gave me a call
I told him to come on over I was just starin' at the four walls
So he came over to my room he was just next door there
Lit a cigarette and sat down in the chair
And he started talkin' bout all the worries that a country music singer has
I said old Red I reckon it's not that bad
He said yeah you're workin' a lot now and you'll have 'em some day
Your dad had 'em and I have 'em I guess it's just meant that way
Then he got up and these were the last words he said
I'm awful tired now Hank and I've got to go to bed
And while I layed there with Red just a few steps away
The angels came and took him into the last golden stage
(There'll be peace in the valley for him how we pray
I was with Red Foley the night he passed away)

. . .


(I've just been to heaven with someone so true I dreamed about mama last night
She read me the Bible like she used to do I dreamed about mama last night)
She never closed her eyes and sleep till we were all in bed
And on party nights till we came home she often sat and read
We little thought about it then for we were young and gay
Just how much mama worried when we children were away
We only knew she never slept then when we were out at night
That she waited just to know that we'd all come home all right
Why sometimes when we'd stay away until one or two or three
It seemed to us that mama heard the turning of the key
For always when we'd step aside she'd call and we'd reply
But we were all too young back then to understand the reason why
Until the last one had returned she'd always keep a light
For mama couldn't sleep until she kissed us all goodnight
She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest
For she seemed to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best
And once she told me when you're grown to women and to men
Perhaps I'll sleep the whole night through I may be different then
And so it seemed that night and day we knew a mother's care
That always when we got back home we'd find her waitin' there
Then came the night that we were called together round her bed
The children're all with you now the kindly doctor said
And in her eyes there gleamed again that old time tender light
That told that she's just been waitin' to know that we were all right
She smiled that old familiar smile and prayed to God to keep
Her children safe from harm throughout the years and then she went to sleep
(My dream is a treasure that I'll always keep I dreamed about mama last night)

. . .

The Glass

[No lyrics]

. . .


Did you ever sit straight up in your bed with somethin' circlin' around your head
And you swot at it as it whizzes by it's just one pesky little fly
You shake your head and you twitch your nose and settle down to sweet repose
Then when you're just about the dose fly trouble
Buzz buzz buzz goes that busy little fly buzz buzz buzz he's takin' off and high
You roll a paper nice and tight and you wait around for him to light
Now there's a fly just livin' right buzz buzz buzz
[ piano ]
Now the toughest hide grows on the mule cause he's a balky stubborn fool
He likes to look at you and glare an' never even move one hare
But when his muscles start to twitch when his tail begins to switch
That mule ain't bothered with the itch fly trouble
Buzz buzz buzz goes that busy little pest buzz buzz buzz that mule can't get no rest
He shakes his head and he bats his eye and kicks his heels up to the sky
Did you ever see a jazz that cry buzz buzz buzz
[ guitar ]
Now you pick yourself a perfect night in June
When all the flowers are bloomin' neath the moon
Your light of love is burnin' bright and you tell yourself tonight's the night
You brace yourself and your courage grows
And you're on your knees where you propose
When this thing bites you right on the nose fly trouble
Buzz buzz buzz goes that busy little thing
Buzz buzz buzz you swot and lose the ring
You fan the air as he goes by and stick your finger right in your eye
You hit every thing except that fly buzz buzz buzz

. . .


Order in the court I heard His Honor say
A man was called before the bench and his trial got under way
[ fiddle ]
You're standin' here on trial today the third time within a year
And each time you've been before me your drinkin' brought you here
The last time I gave you 30 days and a 50 dollar fine
Oh but you well know the price you'll pay won't be so light this time
For drunk drivin' is not the only charge that we have you on today
But also the light of a little girl the one you took away
As I sat there and heard the judge condemn the man's disgrace
I saw a look of pitty reflected on his face
I couldn't understand then why he was lettin' him go free
But as the judge continued to talk he made it plain to see
No I'm not gonna have you thrown into a prison cell
I want you out where you can walk through a life of living hell
I want you to see the tiny children as they come out to play
And let your mind take you back to the life you took away
You'll see a cold deathly picture in every bottle you get near
And when you put it to your lips your hands will shake with fear
You'll never get a goodnight sleep for always in your dreams
You'll see a car strike down a little girl and hear her painful scream
This is one disgrace that you'll never live down
For ever once in awhile you'll hear someone say
There goes the man that killed his only child
Case dismissed

. . .


THE FIRST FALL OF SNOW - Hank Williams
Recorded by Hank Williams, Sr.
Writer: Lorene Rose

3/4 time:|1 |1 |1 |1 |4 |4 |4 |5 |5 |5 |1 |1 |
|1 |1 |1 |1 |4 |4 |4 |1 |1 |5 |1 |1 |

( Start cold )

I talked with a stranger - so sad and forlorn
His garments were sackcloth - all tattered and torn
He told me a story - of sorrow and woe
His heart went to heaven - at the first fall of snow

He spoke of his angel - a dear, baby girl
He loved every footstep - he loved every curl
But she went to heaven - just one year ago
The angels came for her - at the first fall of snow

He still had the dolly - that she used to love
He held and caressed it - and gazed up above
He whispered my baby - You're waiting, I know
I'll bring you, your dolly - at the first fall of snow

And there as I listened - my eyes filled with tears
I knew she was part of - his happier years
His frail body trembled - he spoke soft and low
I'll be with my baby - at the first fall of snow

I patted his shoulder - my feelings to hide
He couldn't know - I was crying inside
He smiled as we parted - 'cause he didn't know
That we lost our baby - at the first fall of snow

Charts transcribed by John "JB" Brown

. . .

Uncle John

[No lyrics]

. . .


When I agree with you baby it makes you mad and when I don't it makes you sad
When I argue back you pack and leave and when I don't you pout in grieve
There just ain't nobody knows what I go through
Will you please make up your mind what you want me to do
You say get out and I'd better stay gone
Then you have a big policeman drag me back home
You holler good and loud put him in the calaboose
Then you cry and ask the judge won't you please turn him loose
The good Lord only knows what I go through
Will you please make up your mind what you want me to do
My life with you baby has been one hard knock
Lord my head looks like an old chop block
And I'll tell you right now honey that ain't all
You done kicked me till I feel like a used football
There just ain't nobody knows what I go through
Will you please make up your mind what you want me to do
You knock me down and then you pick me up
Honey do you have to love so doggone rough
I wish to my soul you'd slow down the pace
Cause I tell you right now the hide's gettin' sca'ce
There just ain't nobody knows what I go through
Will you please make up your mind what you want me to do
Why when I married you you were such a meek little thing
But honey among tigers you'd be queen
If a poor little rabbit had you on his side
Every hound in the country would crawl off and hide
There just ain't nobody knows what I go through
Will you please make up your mind
What in the confounded cat hair you want me to do

. . .

Help Me Understand

[No lyrics]

. . .


I went to the country just the other day
To see my Uncle Bill and sorta pass the time away
I asked him how he'd been since at last I'd passed his way
He rubbed his chin and here's what he had to say
My wife's been sick and the young'ns too and I'm durn near down with the flu
The cow's gone dry and the hens won't lay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The hogs took the cholera and they've all done died
The bees got mad and they left the hive
The weevils got the corn and the rain rotted the hay
But we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The porch rotted down that's more expense
The durned old mule he tore down the fence
The mortage is due and I can't pay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The cow broke in the field and ate up the beans
The durn rabbits they got the turnip greens
And my mainlaw just moved in to stay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
My land's so poor so hard and yeller
You have to sit on a sack of fertilizer to raise an umbrella
And it rains out here nearly every day but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The well's gone dry and I have to tote the water
Up from the spring about a mile and a quarter
My helper he quit for lack of pay but we're still a livin' so everything's okay
The house it leaks it needs a new top when it rains it wets everything we got
The chimney fell down just the other day but we're still a livin' so everything's okay

The corn meals gone and the meat's run out
Got nothin' to kill to put in the smokehouse
The preacher's comin' sunday - to spend the day
But - we're still a-livin' - so ever'thing's okay.

The canned stuff's spoiled - else the jar's got broke
And all we got left is one old billy goat
We're gonna have a new baby about the first of may
But - we're still a-livin' - so ever'thing's okay.

My crop it rotted - in the ground
I asked for another loan but the banker turned me down
But - we're still a-livin' and we're prayin' for better days
So - after all, ever'thing's in purty good shape.

. . .


Tomorrow night I'll be appearin' with my band and my guitar
And I'm gonna sing my heart out at my hometown Circle R

I've made a fortune singing songs and they say I'm a real country music star
But I remember back when I started at my old hometown Circle R
Just an old white plaster building a tipical club with a broken neon sign
Why I left her and all my good drinking friends to make this long and dreary climb
I hope to see familiar faces when I'm at the microphone
Hope to see the girl I left there at a Circle R back home
But I wanted to sing my songs to the world so we slowly but surely drifted apart
I traded her love for a taste of fame that's how I got my start
But now I gladly give up all this fortune and fame just to know I'd be her star
And to be back in my baby's arms and with all my friends at my hometown Circle R
Tomorrow night I'll be appearin'...

. . .


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