There is ''Country Music'' and then there is Hank. Hank was not the later-invention ''Country Music'', he was a ''Hillbilly Artist'' and I say this with profound respect. Hank reminds me of another tortured-artist gone too soon, Vincent Van Gogh: You tell the truth among the great unwashed masses and hope for the best.
Hank had the perfect type of voice and style for this kind of song. I could recognize him before he sang more than a couple of words. I wonder if he ever imagined that he would have this kind of recognition so many years after his passing.
One of my favorite songs of all time! Don, I know occasionally you get comments from folks dissing you for not knowing certain songs, but I'm actually jealous of that. I would love to be able to hear this for the first time just once more! :-)
In a time when men weren't allowed to open up and show their emotions, Hank did just that for all the world to see and feel. And the men were all the better for it.
He is absolutely correct in that respect. Life down both roads is rough, and not for the faint of heart. More like a highway for the lost, arrogant, and just plain foolish.
Hank is the ultimate country singer. There must be something very special in him for his popularity to remain all these years. I think his fans here remember what Hank said to Minnie Pearl, "Minnie, I can't see the light anymore." He surely was on the lost highway. It was good to hear this again.
Hank Williams Sr. was a great country music artist, who also understood the blues. My dad, who is 92, likes his music. This is a great song. Cheers! ✌️
Hey Dwayne, you should listen to Keb Mo's version of "I'm So Lonesome I could Cry" cause he does it and shows how Hank wrote the ultimate blues son ..IMO...
Good Morning Don, there is a term that people throw around way to frequently these days, IMO, how ever in this case it is appropriate. Hank is the true G.O.A.T.. Although he did not write this one (Leon Payne did) he made you feel it as if he did.----#UTRCM
That is my life. I went down that highway, when I was young. Through arrogance and pride, I missed the exit to a better life. I am still on that highway, and it has come to feel like home.
Same brother, and if you're like me it always feels like there's an easy way back to the light but for some reason you just can't, like there's a thin wall blocking you - that wall very well may be a state of unknowing and innocence that can never come back once lost. A man who never cries, but this song tears through my soul.
It's nearly ALIEN to me, to realize that some folks never heard of Hank, or listened to his incredible music before... I'm awful glad you discovered it! Some of my earliest memories are of being in my basinet and listening to my folks spin those old Hank Williams 78 records. I'm 57 now and can say that I've willfully listened to Hank Senior AT LEAST once a week since I was about six years old... Everything that guy recorded was impeccable... And he was probably one of the greatest Songwriters to ever have lived. He wasn't called The Hillbilly Shakespeare for nothing, I guess. The most incredible part of his writing (to me) is how he could paint such vivid mental pictures using so few words. Some of his material was written by other folks, (this one by Leon Payne) but the delivery that Hank had made all of those songs unforgettable, too... The saddest part of it all, is that if he were 21 years old today and walked in to any Nashville Music Mill, they'd probably hear him sing three words and kick him out in the street because they thought he wasn't "good enough". All I can say is "God bless Hank" and to posthumously thank him for leaving us with such a magnificent musical legacy.
My grandfather was a truck driver in Australia, when he would come home he’d take me in his lorrie and play Hank Williams on his cassette just driving around town
Hi Don, love your reactions to classic country. I'm British, born in 62. Musically I grew up in late 70s early 80s. Didn't like the pop songs or fashions of that era, so went retro & got into early Rock & Roll + Rockabilly instead. Started tracing the blues, country, folk & gospel roots of this music, going back to Jimmy Rodgers, Leadbelly, etc. Out of all the artists I came across, Hank Sr. is the one who I love the best. As well as having a unique voice Hank wrote most of the songs he performed & recorded. He truly was 'The Hillbilly Shakespeare '. Anyway, from Hanks' immense legacy, I'd recommend 4 songs for you to react to:- Alone & Foresaken + Ramblin' Man (both classic Hank tear-jerkers), Setting The Woods on Fire + Howlin' At The Moon (2 light hearted songs with funny lyrics about having a good time with your gal & the perils of being in love, which will put a smile on your face!) P.S. I'm not really a fan of Hank Jr. (apart from the video duet he did with his dad, singing Tear in my Beer which was great). I do like Hank III, with his 'Hellbilly' critique of 'pop' country though. From the modern era of country, I do like Dwight Yoakam & Jason Isbell, who keep it 'real'.
I'm English through and through and luckily I was brunk up (oops I know should be brought up, our slang) on Country\Folk mainly Slim Whitman, Tex Ritter, Joan Baez and Burl Ives, I loved the 60\70\80's music after the 80's I couldn't get into modern music, throughout all these decades I have never lost my love of good country music, not pop-country. Really glad to have found Dons Channel as I know no other way of being able to listen to real country music daily. Obviously I don't know what part of Britain you live but here in East Anglia (the Fen country) I can't find any radio stations that play Traditional Country Music, that's why I use UA-cam. On your subject of the Williams family have you listened to Hanks daughter Jett? she has quite a good voice, she sings a lot of Hanks songs and she is very proud of her Dad and rightly so.
Somewhere on youtube there's an amateur video of 3 guys just sitting around in what looks like it might be a little cafe. They'd set up a video camera to record their bluegrass practice session. Some random drunk guy had apparently invited himself to intervene and he singing with them. He sings a rendition of Lost Highway that is so freakin' raw and awesome that it made my list of most memorable version of that song ever. It's titled "Drunk guy sing Hank Williams - Lost highway at our bluegrass jam amazing". This is country at it's most basic roots, heart-felt and inebriated just enough to be completely uninhibited. This is what real country music is all about at its very core. Well worth the watch. You'll dig it.
@The forgotten one That is so touching that your son sent you this song. It means you did a parenting job of making your kids feel welcome in your home, and that is far less common than you may realize. Kudos to you, and welcome to the channel.
You should react to Tommy Prine’s “Ships in the Harbor”. A tribute to his dad. I wouldn’t really call it country but it’s a smooth song that I think everyone would enjoy! As for Hanks song, perfection in a song!!
Don, this was great Hank, was a amazing singer, song writer, always a pleasure to listen to, Don, I would like to request a song by George Straight, called"When Did You Stop Loving Me" thanks for playing great music
I am going on 68,i was raised on County. Never knew rock and roll. He was the favorite. If you can find him on on on his on on the Drifters that would be great.
Another song I've loved and sung along with since I was 7. Also "Alone And Forsaken." Wonder if my mother thought it was strange or if it was all just music. In the song I wonder if he got the girl....or if the girl got him.
write a song like this. Kristofferson said it best in the form of a question "do you suppose a man has to be a miserable s.o.b all the time just to right a good country song"
There is ''Country Music'' and then there is Hank. Hank was not the later-invention ''Country Music'', he was a ''Hillbilly Artist'' and I say this with profound respect. Hank reminds me of another tortured-artist gone too soon, Vincent Van Gogh: You tell the truth among the great unwashed masses and hope for the best.
Hank had the perfect type of voice and style for this kind of song. I could recognize him before he sang more than a couple of words.
I wonder if he ever imagined that he would have this kind of recognition so many years after his passing.
The best of the rest
Hank had a way of singing every note to the fullest. No rushing it for Hank.
He also recorded under the name Luke the Drifter
Hank is the greatest country singer ever, My all time favorite!👍
One of my favorite songs of all time! Don, I know occasionally you get comments from folks dissing you for not knowing certain songs, but I'm actually jealous of that. I would love to be able to hear this for the first time just once more! :-)
Leon Payne wrote Lost Highway , he is resting in Sunset Memorial cemetery in San Antonio tx
In a time when men weren't allowed to open up and show their emotions, Hank did just that for all the world to see and feel. And the men were all the better for it.
The lead singer of Hayseed Dixie once said he believes that hank’s Lost Highway & AC/DC’s Highway To Hell are different stretches of the same road.
He is absolutely correct in that respect. Life down both roads is rough, and not for the faint of heart. More like a highway for the lost, arrogant, and just plain foolish.
acdc's Ride On would be a good comparison
Perfect comparison.
Hank is the ultimate country singer. There must be something very special in him for his popularity to remain all these years. I think his fans here remember what Hank said to Minnie Pearl, "Minnie, I can't see the light anymore." He surely was on the lost highway. It was good to hear this again.
Hank Williams Sr. was a great country music artist, who also understood the blues. My dad, who is 92, likes his music. This is a great song. Cheers! ✌️
Hey Dwayne, you should listen to Keb Mo's version of "I'm So Lonesome I could Cry" cause he does it and shows how Hank wrote the ultimate blues son ..IMO...
Love Hank Williams sr was one of a kind. Thanks for playing this.
One of my all-time favorite Hank songs, Hank really makes you feel his songs like you were there and lived it yourself.
My favorite Hank song. Hank Williams you wrote my life by Moe Bandy is pretty good t
Good Morning Don, there is a term that people throw around way to frequently these days, IMO, how ever in this case it is appropriate. Hank is the true G.O.A.T.. Although he did not write this one (Leon Payne did) he made you feel it as if he did.----#UTRCM
That's a sign of a performer when they make you think they wrote the song they are singing
That is my life. I went down that highway, when I was young. Through arrogance and pride, I missed the exit to a better life. I am still on that highway, and it has come to feel like home.
Same brother, and if you're like me it always feels like there's an easy way back to the light but for some reason you just can't, like there's a thin wall blocking you - that wall very well may be a state of unknowing and innocence that can never come back once lost. A man who never cries, but this song tears through my soul.
It's nearly ALIEN to me, to realize that some folks never heard of Hank, or listened to his incredible music before... I'm awful glad you discovered it!
Some of my earliest memories are of being in my basinet and listening to my folks spin those old Hank Williams 78 records.
I'm 57 now and can say that I've willfully listened to Hank Senior AT LEAST once a week since I was about six years old... Everything that guy recorded was impeccable... And he was probably one of the greatest Songwriters to ever have lived.
He wasn't called The Hillbilly Shakespeare for nothing, I guess.
The most incredible part of his writing (to me) is how he could paint such vivid mental pictures using so few words.
Some of his material was written by other folks, (this one by Leon Payne) but the delivery that Hank had made all of those songs unforgettable, too...
The saddest part of it all, is that if he were 21 years old today and walked in to any Nashville Music Mill, they'd probably hear him sing three words and kick him out in the street because they thought he wasn't "good enough".
All I can say is "God bless Hank" and to posthumously thank him for leaving us with such a magnificent musical legacy.
My grandfather was a truck driver in Australia, when he would come home he’d take me in his lorrie and play Hank Williams on his cassette just driving around town
Hi Don, love your reactions to classic country. I'm British, born in 62. Musically I grew up in late 70s early 80s. Didn't like the pop songs or fashions of that era, so went retro & got into early Rock & Roll + Rockabilly instead. Started tracing the blues, country, folk & gospel roots of this music, going back to Jimmy Rodgers, Leadbelly, etc. Out of all the artists I came across, Hank Sr. is the one who I love the best. As well as having a unique voice Hank wrote most of the songs he performed & recorded. He truly was 'The Hillbilly Shakespeare '.
Anyway, from Hanks' immense legacy, I'd recommend 4 songs for you to react to:-
Alone & Foresaken + Ramblin' Man (both classic Hank tear-jerkers),
Setting The Woods on Fire + Howlin' At The Moon (2 light hearted songs with funny lyrics about having a good time with your gal & the perils of being in love, which will put a smile on your face!)
P.S. I'm not really a fan of Hank Jr. (apart from the video duet he did with his dad, singing Tear in my Beer which was great). I do like Hank III, with his 'Hellbilly' critique of 'pop' country though. From the modern era of country, I do like Dwight Yoakam & Jason Isbell, who keep it 'real'.
I'm English through and through and luckily I was brunk up (oops I know should be brought up, our slang) on Country\Folk mainly Slim Whitman, Tex Ritter, Joan Baez and Burl Ives, I loved the 60\70\80's music after the 80's I couldn't get into modern music, throughout all these decades I have never lost my love of good country music, not pop-country. Really glad to have found Dons Channel as I know no other way of being able to listen to real country music daily. Obviously I don't know what part of Britain you live but here in East Anglia (the Fen country) I can't find any radio stations that play Traditional Country Music, that's why I use UA-cam. On your subject of the Williams family have you listened to Hanks daughter Jett? she has quite a good voice, she sings a lot of Hanks songs and she is very proud of her Dad and rightly so.
You need to try, Hank's song "MEN WITH BROKEN HEARTS"
Oh my, nobody does it better. This is indeed a perfect 10. Thanks Don for a fabulous reaction, and thanks to the magic of UA-cam for suggesting it!
This song gives me chills...Great artist, the King of Country.
ANY Hank sr, jr and Hank 3 is amazing and the best!!!!!!!
This and I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry are my favorite Hank Sr songs. His vocals fit these songs perfectly IMO.
Hank Williams made you feel his music. those that recorded his music after his death. Just sang the words.
Thanks, Don! Listening to Hank Williams, is like taking a deep whiff of ammonia - it clears your head and brings you back to your senses.
Somewhere on youtube there's an amateur video of 3 guys just sitting around in what looks like it might be a little cafe. They'd set up a video camera to record their bluegrass practice session. Some random drunk guy had apparently invited himself to intervene and he singing with them. He sings a rendition of Lost Highway that is so freakin' raw and awesome that it made my list of most memorable version of that song ever. It's titled "Drunk guy sing Hank Williams - Lost highway at our bluegrass jam amazing". This is country at it's most basic roots, heart-felt and inebriated just enough to be completely uninhibited. This is what real country music is all about at its very core. Well worth the watch. You'll dig it.
I think Hank recorded this back in 49 I believe. I really love doing this song. I was a year and a half when Hank died
Great reaction to a great iconic song
My oldest son sent this to me, he love’s Hank Sr.
I’m now subscribed, across the line in NC.
God bless you friend 👊🏼
@The forgotten one That is so touching that your son sent you this song. It means you did a parenting job of making your kids feel welcome in your home, and that is far less common than you may realize. Kudos to you, and welcome to the channel.
@@RockN2Country Thank you sir. My sons are 30’s and we are best friends
Message to my mother is another great. I don’t see any other reaction videos either.
I'm so lonesome I could cry is another #10. There is a Bluegrass group named Kentucky Just US and they sing it beautifully!!
When they say Elvis passed we lost a legend, I'd argue when Hank Sr passed at 29 (I believe) we lost more than a legend.
I love Hank sr. He is fantastic! I've heard this many times, but you've helped me see this in a different light. Thank you
Favorite Hank song
How am I just seeing this one now?! Great job love Hank
Nobody nobody could sing like Hank
He poured every bit of himself into every song he wrote and sang. Which makes every song of his real
You should react to Tommy Prine’s “Ships in the Harbor”. A tribute to his dad. I wouldn’t really call it country but it’s a smooth song that I think everyone would enjoy! As for Hanks song, perfection in a song!!
GOLD !
A Certain 10!!!!
Love this song !!!
He sang about his life.
Don, this was great Hank, was a amazing singer, song writer, always a pleasure to listen to, Don, I would like to request a song by George Straight, called"When Did You Stop Loving Me" thanks for playing great music
Great song! Great reaction Don! Now I gotta go listen to this on repeat about 20 times. Bye for now 😉
I am going on 68,i was raised on County. Never knew rock and roll. He was the favorite. If you can find him on on on his on on the Drifters that would be great.
It's his song he wrote it.
You should react to let's all help the cowboys sing the blues
Hank was a good soul. He did suffer with bone disease I think. Like mine. U love his long drawn out voice.
Hank was anout 13 when he started his first band and he sang and played up and down hwy 31 in Alabama which where Lost Highway is named. 6:53
Hey Don, I've got one for ya Buck Owens "My Last Chance With You".
Remember, it was the *woman's lies* (and a jug of wine) that led him down that lost highway.
townes van zandt does a great version of this song too. fitting I guess since he walked that same lost highway as hank
He wrote his life
Great song. Jeff buckley did a cover of this song. It's really nice.
Sunny Sweeney does a cover of Jerry Jeff Walkers song “ I feel like Hank Williams Tonight”. I think you may like it. God Bless till next time. 🤓
Nice pick...love Sunny and especially that song.
Hank wrote most of his music 🎶🎶
Another song I've loved and sung along with since I was 7. Also "Alone And Forsaken." Wonder if my mother thought it was strange or if it was all just music. In the song I wonder if he got the girl....or if the girl got him.
Pale horse and his rider goes by
write a song like this. Kristofferson said it best in the form of a question "do you suppose a man has to be a miserable s.o.b all the time just to right a good country song"
Tom Petty has a video on here singing this and its really good too
Only Hank
Don, please please please review David Allan Coes Heaven Only Knows. Truly a sad song.
Johnny Horton's version of this song is the best one in my opinion :)
The Hillbilly Shakespeare.
If that ain’t blues, what is
Hank didn't write this song, it was written by Leon Payne.
Music fine, personal story eh.
Is that hat upside down stay lucky.. RIP Hank only the good die young, I'll be 105 shot in the back by a pissed off husband.... be safe... HAKAD
As Petty said "Great F'ing song".