A Christian interpretation of Hank Williams

Hank Williams was very knowledgeable about the Bible and meaning of Bible stories,  and certainly had a near obsession with death and the afterlife.

‘The Unreleased Recordings’ from Mother Best Flour Shows reflect this with a large number of hymns and sacred or morality based songs many written by other people and given a whole hearted, committed, Hank Williams rendition.

There is an excellent discussion of Hank Williams work from a Christian perspective on a Canadian Christian website. Writer John Cody explores the tragic health and family problems Hank faced from early life. He looks at many of his works with an emphasis on the Luke the Drifter persona.

He sees a deep spiritual source for Hank’s writing:

His sister once commented, “If you want to know Hank, check Luke.”

Williams’ charismatic stage persona was invariably good-natured; but many of the performances on The Unreleased Recordings hint at a profound sadness under the happy veneer.

Ongoing marital woes certainly took a toll, but there’s more – a yearning that transcends the temporal. An added sense of foreboding is never more apparent than on the macabre final track, ‘The Pale Horse and His Rider,’ during which he explains “the Bible speaks of a pale horse, and his rider is death.” At the time, Williams was less than two years from his own death.

John Cody mentions Hanks’ relationship with Father Harold Purcell, and at the end of the article comments on Hank’s spirituality:

It would be a stretch to suggest those songs are revelations from God; but they could certainly be considered revelation from man. Hank told interviewers that, for inspiration, he would simply close his mind and let God write the songs.

Awareness of right and wrong is present throughout his work. When he was bad, he knew he was bad, and never made excuses. By all accounts he was a mess of contradictions; but one cannot discount his upbringing. Out of a pained life, Williams’ story is remarkable – and would have been that much sadder without music.

More than half a century after his passing, his music continues to bring joy to listeners everywhere.

It’s amazing as we read these many articles about Hank Williams  to feel the profound effect his words and performances have had  on  the individuals who have written  about ‘The Unreleased Recordings’. Many have focused on the power he possessed to take both his words and voice into some higher level of awareness and humanity.

Here’s the link for the article in canadianchristianity.

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The Unreleased Recordings: powerful vocal on 1894 hymn

‘I Dreamed That The Great Judgement Morning’ is a beautiful treasure of Hank Williams’ ability as an accomplished professional vocalist.

The notes to The Unreleased Recordings three CD set say it is the longest recording of Hank Williams there is. It clocks in at about five minutes. The exact figure is 5:25.

The outstanding thing about this track is the control Hank exhibits from beginning to end. The old hymn is a straight verse piled on verse. There is a chorus but no sense of a break or bridge to give a feeling of variety. There is no musical break by the Drifting Cowboys during the entire performance. I can’t think of too many examples of Hank showing such power over a listener’s attention.

Hank’s singing style is not only controlled, but he sings in a softer gentler range, a bit lower than usual and with a openness and depth. The recording at WSM is deeper and fuller than the MGM recordings at Castle Studio. I wish somebody could explain this.  I have read somewhere that Eddy Arnold, for example, recorded at Castle in those days and certainly achieved a full rich tone.

But the real power of this recording is how it highlights the whole Hank Williams package minus the humor rock and roll of course! There is absolute commitment to the song, total concentration and control, and unbelievable sincerity. 

It doesn’t matter if you are a fundamentalist, evangelical, liberal, Catholic, agnostic, or atheist, in this performance, Hank has you in the palm of his hand, suspending critical judgement and disbelief, for five minutes and twenty five seconds you won’t forget.

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