Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. It was released in August 1975 as the first single from the album Dreaming My Dreams. The song was Jennings’ fourth number one on the country chart as a solo artist.
The song is a tribute to Jennings’ idol, Hank Williams. It questions whether Williams would have approved of the direction that country music had taken in the years since his death. The song’s lyrics reference some of Williams’ signature songs, such as “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart”.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was a critical and commercial success. It won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Male in 1976. The song has also been covered by many other artists, including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson.
Background and writing
Waylon Jennings was a huge fan of Hank Williams. He first saw Williams perform in concert when he was 12 years old. Jennings was so impressed by Williams that he decided to become a country music singer himself.
In the early 1970s, Jennings was one of the leading figures in the outlaw country movement. Outlaw country singers were rebelling against the slick, polished sound of mainstream country music. They were returning to the traditional sound of country music, with its emphasis on honky-tonk and Bakersfield country.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was written in 1974. Jennings wrote the song with his friend and collaborator, Shel Silverstein. The song is a tribute to Williams, but it also questions whether Williams would have approved of the direction that country music had taken in the years since his death.
The song’s lyrics
The song’s lyrics reference some of Williams’ signature songs, such as “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart”. The song also mentions some of the things that made Williams unique, such as his yodeling and his songwriting.
The song’s lyrics are critical of the direction that country music had taken in the 1970s. Jennings sings about how country music had become too slick and polished. He also sings about how country music had lost its touch with the common people.
The song’s impact
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” was a critical and commercial success. It won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Male in 1976. The song has also been covered by many other artists, including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson.
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” is considered to be one of the most important songs in the history of country music. It is a classic example of outlaw country music, and it helped to revive interest in traditional country music. The song is also a powerful tribute to Hank Williams, one of the greatest country music singers of all time.
Other information
- Genre: Country
- Writer: Waylon Jennings and Shel Silverstein
- Producer: Jack Clement
- Label: RCA Records
- Release date: August 1975
- Chart positions:
- US Billboard Hot Country Singles: #1
- US Billboard Hot 100: #12
- Awards:
- Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Male (1976)
Video
Tam Le