Today’s post was written by Paul.
Hank Williams Sr.
In early August, I was watching random music on YouTube, when I happened to think of how my friend Sam Ensley, along with his son Sam, Jr. and Wayde Powell, III, used to have a music show on a local cable channel. They called their band Roots & Branches.
There’s another band by that name now, but to me, I’ll always remember them as the original Roots & Branches, even though they are disbanded now.
Their show was running in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. They always made good music, and their show was a lot of fun. They played a wide range of music, including some of the most creative originals I’ve ever heard from a local band. There was just no telling what kind of songs or music you would hear when you tuned into the show. Anyway, when I remembered their show, I searched YouTube and was surprised to find nothing at all from their show. However, I found several uploads of Sam singing some of his original songs, such as “Brasstown Boy” and “Everywhere I’ve Ever Been.”
I commented favorably on every video I found. These videos were on various channels, rather than on one single channel. The next day, to my surprise, Sam called me. Talk about coincidences. We had planned to do a song together for the 2023 Story Song Series back in March, but Sam came down ill. Since that time, he has been battling cancer and also had a bout with Covid. We talked about trying again, and I met with Sam at Martins Creek School on Friday 8/11 to try a story song together. We wound up talking for about 4 hours, mostly music stories.
One of the cool things for me, when it comes to talking to Sam, is that he knows some Louvin Brothers stories that I don’t know, and I know some that he doesn’t know, so we get to swap. 🙂 We planned to play a short set together the following day at the Byron Herbert Reece Center in North Georgia. Sam let me borrow an old Roots & Branches CD to learn some of the songs we would play in the show. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the show because Sam was feeling poorly. I was blown away by the CD. I already had a copy somewhere in my house, which I had gotten back in the 90’s, but it was far better than I realized back then.
When I heard track 6 (Hank’s Still 29), I knew I had to upload it to our YouTube channel on Hank’s birthday (September 17).
I remember hearing it back when Sam wrote it. At that time, I tried to convince him to enter it into a songwriting contest, but he never did.
Back in 2019, I wrote a song about Pap, called “A Wonder.” I think the format that Sam created in “Hank’s Still 29” probably had a subconscious influence on my song. If you’re familiar with “A Wonder,” you know that it describes ascending ages and associated events in Pap’s life. Though in my song, no one is frozen in time, like Hank is in Sam’s song.
Hank’s Still 29
On New Year’s, 1953, my grandmaw and I cried, When we heard the news on the radio, they said Hank Williams died. I only knew him through his songs, but he seemed like a friend of mine. I was barely 12 years old, and Hank was 29.
Goodbye, Joe. Me gotta go. Me-oh-my-oh.
About to fail in college, had make a speech ’bout who we thanked. Some thanked Abe; some thanked George; I just thanked ‘ole Hank. We’d sit around and listen to him during study time. I was in my nineteenth year, and Hank was 29.
Say Hey, goodlookin’, how’s about cooking something up with me?
With a marriage wrong and wife long gone, I thought I couldn’t win. I dug out all Hank’s old records and listened to ’em over again. We drank and sang about how love hurts until I finished cryin’. I was 31 years old and Hank was 29.
Your cheatin’ heart… will tell on you. Life slowed down going up love’s hill. On the downside, it took off. If the passing years were lightpoles, they’d look like corduroy cloth. With grayin’ hair and fadin’ eyes, got the mid-life 40 blues. Hank was still just 29 when I turned 42.
I was moanin’, moanin’ the blues.
Now time just keeps on clickin’ along, like ties on a railroad track. I pay more attention to where I am, ’cause I probably won’t be back. Now, I might die tomorrow or live to 109. It won’t matter how old I get, Hank’ll still be 29.
No matter how I struggle and strive, I’ll never get out of this world alive.
Just a picture from life’s other side…
I think Sam’s song is brilliant, especially the way he used touchstone lines from Hank’s songs and connected them to his own life events.
I appreciate him letting me share the song with you. Lord willing, I hope to share more from Sam next March during our story song series. Thank you for watching.
Paul
Thanks Paul, I have been away and only just picked this up. Hank Senior, what a legend! His songs continue. Earlier this month, I had done some country research and remembered Hank would have been 100 on the 17th, but still only 29 as Sam mentions in his superb song.
While listening to Sam sing, I was taken to each moment of Hank’s songs. So brilliant the way Sam put this together. I also was noticing the pictures on the wall. I still listen to some of Hank Williams music. Those were the days of true story telling through music and Sam fits into the same style. Thank you Paul for sharing this great memory and music with us. May you, granny, Tipper and Family Have a Blessed evening.
Patricia Shadoe Blythe
That’s brilliant! Grabs your heart…
I’ve listened to all these songs. My mom and dad listened to his records. Dad played and sang them too.
Hank Williams was Pure true Country.
No doubt about he was my first exposure to Country Music when I was 8 years old l’m 64 today and I have all his albums from my father, there’s has been no one like Hank Williams Sr still listening to his music today in 2023 what a Voice!
That’s a great song. Thanks for sharing with us. I hope everyone has a peaceful, restful Sunday.
That’s a great song! Thank you for sharing this Paul and thanks to Sam. I agree, I wish he had entered the song in a contest. It’s super!! Have a blessed Sunday everyone!!
Oh Paul I really enjoyed this so much especially just hearing you talk about your friend, he’s very talented as are you. I love stories like this, getting the other persons views helps you see it or hear from the other side. I love any videos you have of pap just talking, I’ve listened to you and Tipper talk about him so much he just seems so wise and knowledgeable I feel I missed out. It must be wonderful to have all that talent to lean on. Please give granny my best and keep doing what you’re doing.
I was 2 years and 3 months even the day Hank Williams died? I was born on a Sunday and will be 73 on a Sunday. Hank Williams was born on a Monday.
Hank Williams Jr. was 3 years 7 months and 6 days old on that fateful day. A person could probably calcufy those numbers and wish me a Happy Birthday on the 73rd anniversary of my birthdate on that day if I make it that far. Riddle me that!
I learned a lot from reading this offering today. I was sheltered in the backwoods ’til I was “grown”, so, never a fan of Hank Williams because I heard about his namesake first. I guess I was thinking “like son like father” but now I am a fan of the songs of the father, partly due to you Paul. I’ll stop there.
I’m not stuck on 29, I’ve been there twice already and I’m coming around again!
My Dad loved Hank Williams, always had one of his tapes on in his truck. Love this song.
What a great song–lyrics, voice, guitar. Thank you for sharing this. God continue to bless Granny, Katie, and the rest of their family!
Good song!!! I remember singing some of Hank’s old songs. He was a talented writer.
I listened to Pap’s song that he wrote “Wonder,” and oh my Pap was a talented writer!! Thanks Paul for sharing those songs.
Great song. Interesting that my local area of Appalachia has connections to two parts of this. The Louvin Brothers growing up in Ider, Alabama and one of Hank Williams last stops hours before he died was in Ft Payne, Alabama. He got a haircut, the barber’s family still has the chair and they went to a local boot legger to get him a bottle of whiskey. DeKalb County was officially “dry” then. Still is today. Both towns about fifteen miles apart. Also home to Vestal Goodman of the Happy Goodman Family and the country group Alabama.
My dad was a big Hank Williams Sr fans and like his son too. My dad would have liked that song too. Thank you for sharing it with us. Y’all have a blessed Sunday to praise our Lord Jesus!
Me and you both Sam. I feel the weight of the years with “weight” having many faces. I get set back from time to time seeing video of ones we knew still young though now gone and even long gone. Reminds me of that line, “Whatever happened to Randolph Scott, Roy and Rex, the Durango Kid..” Same thing happens when I look at old pictures of young me. But I didn’t stay unchanging.
Whatever happened to the Statler Brothers?
“If the passion’ years were lightposts, they’d look like corduroy cloth.” That’s a really, really good line. Thanks for sharing this song and story.
I remember wearing corduroy pants. Being “knock kneed”, I made noises when I walked!
First time I’ve heard this paul ,loved it ,thanks
Since it is Sunday, I want to THANK NORMAN CHESTER for his testimony and what a frightful tale he suffered through for 46 years! Then he got saved and that’s when life began so welcome to the world Norman and I pray someone can be saved because of your testimony which is a real eye peeler! Praise God! I liked this song and the guy has real writing talent that shines through! It was (as songs go) a great topic. I’ve thought through the years about folks who’ve passed on avoiding all the ugliness of aging and yes, I keep getting older and they won’t go through all that. In a way it’s bittersweet, but in another a relief (if you can see it my way.) God bless all us living critters and especially Granny and Katie at this time.
Now, that is a great little tune!
Hank Williams is my all time favorite country music singer. I think he lived the songs he wrote. I like all of his songs, but I think “ The Lost Highway” says it all about him. To me, today’s singers, with the exception of a few can’t hold a candle to Hank and the other older singers. I once worked with a man that had fought in the Korean War, he would tell of seeing some of the coldest hard hearted men cry like babies when they listen to Hank sing “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”.
Love this. Thanks!
what a great song.. It’s funny how that happens, you meet someone or in this case hear a song and in your mind they are always that age. I ran into an old friend from yhe 7th grade not long ago, I am sure the shock was on my face that she wasn’t 12 anymore
Thanks for another good video. Have a Blessed Sunday and still praying for Granny and you guys.
I agree, that should have been submitted!
Great, great song!! Thanks for sharing!!
I got saved March of 2022,praise the Lord I saw the light, I was methamphetamine addict for 46 yrs, I got 3 yr clean on June 15 2023,I found Jesus in jail and brought him home with me, I didn’t leave him there, God bless you Paul, God bless Granny Louzine Wilson with healing and health and love care and protection with deliverance from cancer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and savior Amen
Norman it’s a blessing to read your testimony.
Norman, I will probably never meet you down here on earth but I look forward to spending eternity in Heaven with you. Congratulations