Curtain call for Hank Williams

Hank Williams was deader than a doornail when "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" made it to No. 1 at this time in 1953. It was the last song he wrote, and followed other more famous chart-toppers like "Lovesick Blues," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey Good Lookin'" and "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)."

(Perhaps Hank's most famous song, and my personal favorite, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" was the B side to "My Bucket's Got a Hole In It," which made it to No. 2 in 1949.)

"I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" has never received the airplay or attention of Hank's other classics, but it's a great record that has been covered by both Junior and HWIII, and could easily become a favorite if anybody would give it a listen. Here's your chance if you haven't fallen for it already.

Now you're lookin' at a man that's gettin' kind a mad
I had lot's of luck but it's all been bad
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world a live

My fishin' pole's broke the creek is full of sand
My woman run away with another man
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

A distant uncle passed away and left me quite a batch
And I was livin' high until that fatal day
A lawyer proved I wasn't born
I was only hatched

Ev'rything's agin' me and it's got me down
If I jumped in the river I would prob'ly drown
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

These shabby shoes I'm wearin' all the time
Are full of holes and nails
And brother if I stepped on a worn out dime
I bet a nickel I could tell you if it was heads or tails

I'm not gonna worry wrinkles in my brow
'Cause nothin's ever gonna be alright nohow
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

I could buy a Sunday suit and it would leave me broke
If it had two pair of pants I would burn the coat
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

If it was rainin' gold I wouldn't stand a chance
I wouldn't have a pocket in my patched up pants
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

With the groundswell of emotion over Hank's shocking death on New Year's Day 1953, three other songs soon followed this one as posthumous No. 1s: "Kaw-Liga," "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Take These Chains From My Heart."

The photo of the curtain with the words and music to "Your Cheatin' Heart" was taken during a visit to Hank's childhood home in Alabama last fall. (If you missed that post you can click here.) If you click on the image above I swear you'll almost be able to smell the place. You know if they had been selling curtains I would've walked out with one.