Hank Williams Songs Ranked
Hiram “Hank” Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one (three posthumously). Many artists covered songs Williams wrote and recorded. He influenced Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, George Jones, Charley Pride, and The Rolling Stones, among others. Williams was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1961), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987). The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2010 awarded him a posthumous special citation “for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life.” Here are all of Hank Williams’s songs ranked.
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16. May You Never Be Alone (The Complete Hank Williams, 1998)
“Another Hank classic about domestic turmoil. Say what you will about his wife, she sure inspired lots of great songs – you can feel how mad he is. Slightly prefer the underrated B-side, more lonesome greatness.”
15. I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive, 1952)
“While the song has been often related to Hank’s own impending death (many still say it was number one the day he died when the facts say differently), the best thing about this and his other songs is the universality of the message that is true about all of us (yes, everyone is going to die eventually!) and how you can still smile and have a sense of humor no matter how wrong things get and they do get very wrong in this song
14. Half As Much (Half As Much, 1952)
“Written by another Williams (Curley, not related), it still got everything a great Hank song needs with the typical topic of unrequited love. The B-side hits even closer to home for me then again I usually think the slower he gets, the better..”
13. Long Gone Lonesome Blues (Your Cheatin’ Heart, 1964)
“Legendary spiritual follow-up to “Lovesick Blues”, this time written by himself. Hard-hitting beat, excellent yodeling and his bitterness and despair can hardly be more entertaining, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry.. Adding the B-side, a stark-serious prison/heartbreak ballad and you have yourself another 5 star single.”
See more: Hank Williams Albums Ranked
12. Lost Highway (Lost Highway, 1987)
“Lost Highway” is one of an endless stream of strong to classic songs that Hank Williams produced in his six year recording career. It may have been the B side, but it is the stronger of these two songs by some margin. This was hardly unusual for Williams.”
11. Why Don’t You Love Me (Why Don’t You Love Me, 1950)
“And the hit/classic streak continues, the A-side is full of energy and one of my favorite Hank songs to sing along to. also love how he sings “nearer” and “further” as on the edge of yodeling.. could listen to this all day, yes! The b-side is not too special..”
10. I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) (I Can’t Help It, 1951)
“As Hank was getting bogged down in drugs, Luke the Drifter releases and duets with his horrible wife, he still managed to release a fun side with ‘Howlin’ at the Moon.’ But it’s the B-side, ‘I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You),’ that is one of his very best, and is an essential track in country music’s history.”
9. Move It On Over (Father & Son, 1965)
“Move It On Over was not Hank Williams’ first single, but it was his first big hit. He had recorded a couple of singles for the small country label, Sterling Records, which had created enough of a buzz to land him a contract with MGM, one of the biggest names in country music. Move It On Over was Hank’s first single for MGM and his first big hit. It went Top 10 on the Billboard chart (peaking at #4), making him a crossover star right from the start. He wasn’t to achieve huge popularity until his 1949 million sellers Lovesick Blues but he was already well on his way.”
8. Ready to Go Home (Ready to Go Home, 1957)
“Indeed, one of Hank Williams’ greatest achievements was to appeal to a broad spectrum of music fans. He was both enormously popular and highly revered by music critics. He was regarded as an authentic and uncompromising country artist, but pop audiences ‘got’ his sound.”
7. Take These Chains from My Heart (The Great Hits of Hank Williams Snr, 2000)
“The last song that Hank recorded in the studio and another timeless classic. Not written by him but what does it even matter? Country ballads can hardly get better.. the same topic heard in songs like “Release Me” etc. B-side is “Ramblin Man” which was released as Luke the Drifter before but it’s good more people got to hear it on this posthumous single..”
See more: George Jones Albums Ranked
6. Cold, Cold Heart (Cold, Cold Heart, 1951)
“Cold, Cold Heart” might be my favorite Hank song on a good day, in many ways ahead of its time predating the more psychological turmoil and blame- and helplessness, that would be picked up by songwriters like Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard. its A-side is more uptempo and a lesser classic..”
5. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (Jambalaya, 1952)
“”Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” was a song that I didn’t recognize through the title, but quickly after hearing a few notes it registered. It’s one of those fun-time ho-down knee-slapping greats perfect for swinging your partner ’round the campfire after a cookout. I specifically remember this tune being in the movie Steel Magnolias for the record.”
4. Hey, Good Lookin’ (Memorial Album, 1953)
“Unbelievable how good he was at this point, even with a corny title/chorus like this he makes a straight Honky-tonk goodtime classic, how could the writer of these many heartbreak ballads make such uplifting and optimistic joy at the same time?”
3. Your Cheating Heart (Your Cheating Heart, 1964)
“Inspired by the collapse of his first marriage, “Your Cheatin’ Heart” mixes sorrow, regret, and aching beauty into an irresistible package. Over time, its melodic melancholy has come to epitomize country music for a great many listeners.”
2. Angel of Death (Angel of Death, 1954)
“One of Williams’ best sides, Don Helms steel guitar, supported by the fiddle and the other guitars on a midtempo score provide an appropriately sombre and chastening setting as Hank asks his listeners if they are ready when, as detailed in the Bible, the day of their judgement arrives and God’s fateful messenger arrives to reckon up their earthly score”
1. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, 1949)
“A strong contender for the title of the greatest country song ever written. I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry is a perfect piece of songwriting craft and one of the saddest songs you will ever hear. Like so many of the best songs one of its strengths is its simplicity. It is centred around a single image, that of a whippoorwill, as a symbol for loneliness. It is”
