An Underrated Poet - Tim Ryerson's Blog

Not many people realize that Hank Williams was much more than just a red-neck, honky-tonk country singer. He was also a superb poet…Example:

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry: Written and Sung By Hank Williams

Hear the lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I’m so lonesome I could cry

I’ve never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind a cloud
To hide its face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die
That means he's lost the will to live
I’m so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I’m so lonesome I could cry

In my opinion, the last two verses are some of the finest poetry I have ever read, old or new…
How about y'all?...What do you think of these lyrics? And if you feel so inclined, tell me about your favorite song lyric or lyrics or song writer, etc...Thanks!

Just couldn't resist adding this lyric by the late, great Waylon Jennings...This song was responsible for launching the 'Outlaw country' revolution in the early 80's (Willie Nelson, David Allen Coe, Hank Williams Jr. and Jerry Jeff Walker to name a few)...It mocks the Nashville establishment and calls for a change...Many people mistakenly credit Hank Jr for writing this song, although he did do his own version, which was actually a bigger hit than Waylon's origional..

I Don't Think Hank Done it This A'way: Written and sung by Waylon Jennings

Lawd-it's-the-same damn tune, fiddle and guitar
Where do we take it from here?
Rhinestone suits and big shiny cars
It's been the same way for years
We need to change...

Somebody told me when I-first-came-to Nashville
Son you fin'ly got-it-made
Old Hank made it here (and-we're-all-sure-that-you-will)
But-I-don't-think-Hank done it this a'way
No-I-don't-think-Hank done it this a'way

Ten years down the road doin' one night stands
Speeding my young life away
Tell me one more time just so's I'll understand
Are you sure Hank done it this a'way
Did-old-Hank really do it this a'way?

I've seen the world with a five piece band
Lookin' at the back side of me
Singing my songs (and one-a'-his now and then)
But-I-don't-think-Hank done 'em this a'way
No-I-don't-think-Hank done 'em this a'way

Take it home...

***Wylon's guitar licks starting the song, in between each verse and at the ending fade-out are hypnotic and stunning...he purposely uses only one chord with awesome results (Hyphens are used to help demonstrate how the song was sung)

Eileen Manassian Date: 6/25/2013 7:01:00 AM Ok...don't laugh, Tim, but I know the words (lyrics) of the first poem you wrote because of a singer named Donny Osmond! Yes...it was on one of his albums and I adored him...but yes...now that I read the words without the music, I do see how awesome it is! Great blog....... Login to Reply

Vince Suzadail Jr. Date: 4/3/2013 4:16:00 PM I'm going to see Kris Kristofferson in two weeks. The outlaws have had their share of hits. Slow Movin Outlaw is one of my favorites of Waylon's. Kristofferson was quite a poet with Me and Bobbie McGee, Why Me Lord, Jody and the Kid, Sunday Morning Coming Down, but Hank Sr. started it all, bringing country music to the nation. Login to Reply

Abdulhafeez Oyewole Date: 4/1/2013 7:19:00 PM Awesome write and awesome opinion. I felt the lyrics Login to Reply

Linda Rutherford Date: 3/21/2013 5:27:00 PM Another thought...There was a contest awhile ago. A Hank Williams tribute. You had to pick a song of his and write a poem about it. I picked "I'm so lonesome I could cry"...You might want to go and look up the contest...There were some really good ones...Linda Login to Reply Linda Rutherford Date: 3/21/2013 5:32:00 PM Oh my...just went and looked...that contest was in 2009...kind of forgot how long ago it was...lol...Oh well...Linda

David Williams Date: 3/21/2013 4:22:00 PM Tim, yah love Hank... Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/21/2013 2:30:00 PM oh, and who can forget simon and garfunkel? and even Johnny Cash! didn't he have a few poetic type songs he wrote?(maybe ones like a Boy Named Sue were written by other people FOR him to sing!) Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/21/2013 2:28:00 PM there are some music singers/writers that I really love but right now their names are not coming to my memory. A few were Gordon Lightfoot, Don Mclean, Cat Stevens, Beatles of course, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Neil Diamond, and many others. Login to Reply Deb Wilson Date: 3/22/2013 9:11:00 PM you mentioned all the ones I was thinking of Andrea..so great all of them..now one of my new favorite singer/songwriters is Adele...

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/21/2013 2:27:00 PM Yes, I think a lot of artists in pop music as well as country are also poets!! I wish I knew a really good friend that lived near me who could "hear" notes and compose music to go with my lyrical poetry. Can you imagine teaming up with a musical person and writing songs together. What a dream that would be!!(especially if they got heard by the whole world!!) Login to Reply

Heather Ober Date: 3/21/2013 1:59:00 PM So true, Tim! I LOVE the first verse of this song. What a talent to have - writing poetry and music and somehow making them work together. I see Rick already mentioned them below, but I would also add Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot to your list :) Login to Reply

Linda Rutherford Date: 3/21/2013 11:54:00 AM I also love Hank. But I think my favorite is Marty Robbins. His El Paso and Big Iron are two of my favorites. As you can tell...I'm a big fan of gunfighter songs. lol Linda Login to Reply Tim Ryerson Date: 3/21/2013 12:06:00 PM Wow Linda, what a coincidence!...While reading your comment it just so happened I was listening to 'Don't Worry' (about me) By Marty...listening again right now...

Brian Strand Date: 3/21/2013 9:44:00 AM Well said Tim, poetry is every where if we would but look. Your point confirms that all poetry needs to be read (perhaps sung) aloud. Rgds Brian Login to Reply

Carrie Richards Date: 3/21/2013 8:45:00 AM Indeed.......song writers are poets in every sense of the word. Quite often I'll read a poem here on the soup, and can imagine it set to beautiful music.....some of our contests with that in mind have inspired great song lyrics by our Soupers. Hard to beat Lennon/McCartney as writers....and as Craig mentioned Paul Simon......Jim Croce' comes to mind...some of my fav lyrics were his .........there are amazing song writers......poets in every sense of the word Login to Reply

Charmaine Chircop Date: 3/21/2013 8:16:00 AM Lovely Tim..tmks for sharing Login to Reply

Tim Ryerson Date: 3/20/2013 11:35:00 PM I also think that Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell are master poets who simply put their poetry to music... Login to Reply