Hank Williams Did It This Way, 71 Years Ago

Tributes here from Dylan, the Beatles and Stones, Emmylou, Waylon, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Linda Ronstadt, Tim Hardin, Elvis Costello, Al Green, James Brown (!) and via "The Last of Us."

Greg Mitchell, longtime executive editor at the legendary Crawdaddy, has written a dozen books and, since 2022, has directed three films for PBS. Four of his books are on sale this week for just $1.99: Atomic Cover-up, Memorial Day Massacre, Vonnegut & Me, and So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits and the President Failed on Iraq.

Back in September, when I mentioned Hank Wiilliams’ 100th birthday on Twitter, one wag noted that if he was living today he would still be younger than Henry Kissinger. Shortly after, Henry (who did far more harm to his fellow creatures) joined old Hank in not getting out of this world alive.

In any case: This weekend will mark the 71st anniversary of Hank taking his last ride in that iconic “back seat of a Cadillac,” paving the way for future rockers not just with his music, attitude, and knee-shaking but a sadly dramatic way to “go out” if you are indeed doomed to die young. Imagine the songs he might have written for another forty or fifty years.

The “Hank Williams Syndrome,” according to Waylon Jenning, who penned a song with that title: “Come to Nashville, write some good songs, cut some hit records, make money, take all the drugs you can and drink all you can, become a wild man and all of a sudden die.”

Still, he lives on in so many of today’s artists. To mention one, Phoebe Bridgers has revealed: “My form of rebellion was starting to play guitar. I was 13. The first song I played was ‘Lovesick Blues’ by Hank Williams.” (Actually, that was one classic he did not write but he did make a massive hit out of it.)

So to mark Hank’s last ride, enjoy what follows( but first please subscribe, it’s still free).

Hank introduced by, yes, June Carter, in her early goofy stage persona, long before she met Johnny Cash. Note the knee wobbles, pre-Elvis, on “Hey, Good Lookin’.”

And another classic, “Cold Cold Heart”—the first adult 78 given to me as a wee lad, in the hit Tony Bennett version.

Dylan has always called Hank one of his biggest influences. Here he sings some Hank with Joan Baez from Don’t Look Back, and then an outtake (which I just discovered) from his Freewheelin album, “I Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow.”

Lennon with a snippet of “Hey Good Lookin’” during the “Get Back” sessions. Yes, the boys covered Hank’s first hit, “Lovesick Blues,” back in Hamburg.

An amazing, genre blasting, “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by James Brown.

Terrific tribute to Hank’s final hours: Emmylou Harris with “Rollin’ and Ramblin.”

All-star “Lovesick Blues” with Brandi Carlile, Ben Folds, Chris Thile, Sarah Jarosz

There have been hundreds of other tribute songs, some swell, many weak or tacky. Here’s a great one from another terrific songwriter who threw it all away, Tim Hardin.

Elvis Costello takes a speedball and then tries to catch up with Hank’s “Why Don’t You Love Me”— with two guitar legends, Jerry Garcia and James Burton.

Linda Ronstadt joined by Emmylou on “I Can’t Help It.”

Waylon captured the spirit here with his classic “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”:

And back to the master himself, as he was surely “Alone and Forsaken.” Perhaps the most haunting song ever. Featured as a theme in “The Last of Us” HBO series and popular video game:

Sheryl Crow, “Long Gone Lonesome Blues”

Jerry Lee joined by Keith Richards on “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Jerry, of course, had a very early hit with “You Win Again.”

And here is “You Win Again” by the Stones with Mick’s country honk voice.

Al Green, on his greatest album, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

And finally, Hank dropping in on Anita Carter, who appears to be a bit frightened or just in awe as he tells her “I Can’t Help It.”