THE DEATH OF HANK WILLIAMS
Recorded by Jack Cardwell
Writer: Jack Cardwell
CAPO: 2nd FRET/KEY: E/PLAY: D
[D] Way up in West Virginia
Between midnight and [A7] dawn
A [D] big, blue car was roll-in’
Its’ wheels they [A7] hummed a [D] song.
The headlights shown out thru the night
To light the road so steep
While in the back, Hank Williams lay
In a deep and dreamless sleep.
He was headin’ for Ohio
To play a show next day
’Cause thousands there were waiting
To hear him sing and play.
The chauffeur reached into the back
And shook the sleepin’ man
He said “Wake up, wake up, my friend.“
And took him by the hand.
He tried to wake him up again
Then rushed him into town
But the doctor said, “Too late, too late,
He’s gone to a better land.“
We’ve lost our greatest folk song star
This world has ever known
But tho’ he’s gone on to his rest
His songs live on and on.
He wrote songs about the bible
And songs about the hills
His songs about the lonesome blues
They gave the world a thrill.
He left us songs of sadness
And songs for lovers, too
We’ll never forget him, tho’ he’s gone
Hank Williams, here’s to you.
SOURCE: 1953 COUNTRY SUPER HITS/GUSTO GT-0021