Why Don't You Love Me (Hank Williams song)
| "Why Don't You Love Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Hank Williams | ||||
| B-side | "A House Without Love" | |||
| Released | May 1950 | |||
| Recorded | January 9, 1950 | |||
| Studio | Castle Studio, Nashville | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:23 | |||
| Label | MGM | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Hank Williams | |||
| Producer(s) | Fred Rose | |||
| Hank Williams singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Why Don't You Love Me" is a song by American singer and guitarist Hank Williams. The song reached number one on the U.S. Country & Western chart.[1] It was released as a single in 1950 with the B-side "A House Without Love".
Background
Like his previous hits "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" and "I Just Don't Like This Kind of Living", "Why Don't You Love Me" was likely inspired by Hank's turbulent relationship with his wife Audrey Williams. However, the song is more lighthearted in nature, with the narrator admonishing himself ("I'm the same old trouble you've always been through") and became Williams' third No. 1 country hit. The tune was recorded in Nashville at Castle Studio with Fred Rose producing on January 9, 1950 and featured Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Bob McNett (lead guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Ernie Newton (bass).[2] It is set in common time composed in a moderate tempo,[3] with a main key of F major with a basic sequence of F–C7–B♭ as its chord progression.[3]
"Why Don't You Love Me" was featured over the closing credits of the film The Last Picture Show.
Charts
| Chart (1950) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
Cover versions
- George Jones recorded it for his 1960 album George Jones Salutes Hank Williams.
- Hank Williams Jr. recorded the song as a duet with Lois Johnson.
- The song was covered by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1969.
- Little Richard covered the song in 1972.
- It was covered by American country artist Connie Smith in 1975 and was released as a single, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Country chart.
- It was covered in 1977 by Moe Bandy on his album Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry.
- Elvis Costello and the Attractions cover the song on their 1981 country covers album Almost Blue, recorded in Nashville.
- The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered the song on their self-titled debut album.
- It was recorded by My Morning Jacket on Early Recordings, Chapter 2: Learning.
- Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis covered the song on their 2000 album You Win Again.
- The Secret Sisters recorded the song for their début album.
- Tom Jones released a version on his 2015 album Long Lost Suitcase
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 387.
- ^ Escott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004.
- ^ a b "Why Don't You Love Me – Hank Williams Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc.
Sources
- Escott, Colin; Merritt, George; MacEwen, William (2004). Hank Williams: The Biography. New York: Little, Brown.
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