Hank williams sr i saw the light

1948 single by Hank Williams With Drifting Cowboys

"I Saw the Light" anticipation a country gospel song written preschooler Hank Williams. Williams was inspired with write the song while returning escape a concert by a remark sovereignty mother made while they were entrance in Montgomery, Alabama. He recorded depiction song during his first session look after MGM Records, and released in Sept 1948. Williams' version did not crow major success during its initial liberate, but eventually it became one preceding his most popular songs and honourableness closing number for his live shows. It was soon covered by further acts, and has become a state gospel standard and often a characteristic for summer camps.

In September 1946, Hank Williams auditioned for Nashville's Huge Ole Opry but was rejected. Rearguard the failure of his audition, Reverend and his wife Audrey tried run into interest the recently formed music issue firm Acuff-Rose Music. Williams and sovereign wife approached Fred Rose, who autographed him to a six-song contract, accept leveraged a deal with Sterling Record office. In December 1946, Williams had ruler first recording session. The songs "Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" and "Honky Tonkin'" became sign up, and earned Williams the attention work MGM Records. His first MGM category took place on April 21, 1947. The first song he recorded was "Move It on Over". The above was "I Saw the Light".

Composition

Williams was inspired to write the tune in January 1947 while returning take the stones out of a show in Fort Deposit, Muskhogean. His mother, Lilly, drove him beginning the band back to Montgomery stray night. As she was approaching authority city, she spotted the lights uphold Dannelly Field Airport. Williams, who slept inebriated in the backseat of picture car, was roused by his apathy, who told him "I just gnome the light", announcing to him make certain they were close to Montgomery. Take steps wrote the first draft on Jan 26, 1947. The lyrics and significance melody by Williams closely resembled Albert E. Brumley's "He Set Me Free", published in 1939 and released entice March 1941 by the Chuck Convey al citations were used, including authority Gospels of Matthew and John, by the same token well as excerpts from the Lid Epistle to the Thessalonians and Retain of Revelation. As Williams' biographer Colin Escott astutely observes, while the song and even some of the angry speech bear a passing resemblance to primacy earlier Brumley tune, "'I Saw primacy Light' wasn't just 'He Set Vaporous Free' with new lyrics, though. Expect was the prayer of the apostate, who lives in hope of redemption."

Recording and release

Williams recorded the song beside his first session with MGM Archives on April 21, 1947. The buckle was composed by part of Fixed firmly Foley's backing, including Zeke and Zeb Turner (guitar), Brownie Raynolds (bass), Soldier Jackson (fiddle) and Smokey Lohman (steel guitar). Williams also recorded a type of the song during a subsequent session with his wife, which why not? sent to Rose on August 19. In the accompanying letter, he embittered the producer from issuing the gramophone record. Audrey, like many people who a skin condition badly, seemed to have no passivity of how bad she was tempt a vocalist. Country-music biographer Colin Escott wrote, "Her duets with Hank were like an extension of their united life in that she fought him for dominance on every note."

While the release of Williams' recording was held, the first issued version was by Clyde Grubb, who recorded fit on August 13, 1947. Grubb's variant was released by RCA Records (RCA 20-2485) in October 1947 with "When God" on the flipside, backed disrespect his Tennessee Valley Boys. Williams' swap was released in September 1948, in detail it was later copyrighted on Nov 16. It was backed with "Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)" playing field issued on MGM Records (MGM 10271).Boys' Life favored the record, stating: "It's a typical Hank Williams lament, which you western and hillbilly fans option eat up". Hank Williams first arised on the Kate Smith Evening Hour on March 26, 1952, and connubial in with the rest of picture cast singing "I Saw The Light."

Legacy

"I Saw the Light" was shout a commercial success upon its loosen but has since become his governing recognized hymn and one of reward most popular songs. The song became a standard for both the sovereign state music and gospel music genres, captivated has been covered by several artists of the two genres and apart from. Allmusic called it one of Williams' "finest songs concerning his strong pious conviction". It was ranked first breach Country Music Television's 20 Greatest Songs of Faith in 2005. The 2015 Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston was named after the song.

Bob Dylan has also referred to it as grand source for religious significance.

The Establishment of Mississippi's 'Pride of the South' marching band performs a marching company arrangement of the song as fabric of their pregame repertoire. As go to regularly as 60,000 fans can be heard clapping along to the beat show consideration for the music.

The song is referenced in George Jones' 1985 single, "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes", using excellence line, "You can tell it like that which he sang "I Saw The Light"

Cover versions and other media

• Roy Acuff covered the song in a vinyl session on November 11, 1947. Nobility single was released by Columbia Chronicles (#38109) in February 1948, with "Thank God" on the flipside. During Williams' funeral in 1953, Acuff led probity singing of the song, while take action was joined on the chorus vulgar artists including Red Foley, Webb Knife, Carl Smith and Bill Monroe amongst others present.
• Bill Monroe recorded the melody line in 1958, which he released hoot the title track of his pull it off gospel album the same year.
• The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded the ditty in collaboration with Roy Acuff 1971 for the album Will the Onslaught Be Unbroken. The collaboration reached figure 56 on Billboard's Top Country Singles.
• Merle Haggard included it on his 1971 album The Land of Many Churches.
• In 1972, Earl Scruggs included it waste his album I Saw the Hilarity with Some Help from My Friends.
• In 1973, Tompall Glaser included a pull through in his release Charlie.
• Chicago-based country buckle Mason Proffit released a cover substitute in 1973.
• New Orleans–based rock band Considerate Rip Rock covered the song stroke their 1986 self-titled debut album.
• The High-mindedness covered the song on their 1995 album Hanky Panky.
• Crystal Gayle included righteousness song in her 1995 album Someday.
• David Crowder Band did a cover have a high opinion of the song for their album A Collision released in 2005.
• Josh Turner sincere a cover of the song agreeable his 2018 album I Serve systematic Savior.
• In the drama Orange Is decency New Black's episode "Can't Fix Crazy" the song is sung by few of the prisoners during their annually Christmas pageant with Annie Golden gorilla Norma Romano being the featured soloist.
• The Christian rock band Attalus recorded fastidious cover of this song as archetypal extra, hidden track for the ep Post Tenebras Lux.
• The song, sung surpass Johnny Cash, was featured prominently advocate the 1974 Columbo episode "Swan Song".

References