텍사스 주의 뷰몬트에서 태어나 9세 때 기타를 배워 12세 때에 작곡을 하는 놀라운 조숙함을 보인 뒤 1953년에 데뷔하였다. 인기나 정조 모던 또는 개인주의의 점에서 흔히 벅 오언스와 비견되는 1급 가수로 1955년 ~ 1957년 사이의 로커빌리 시대에 순수한 컨트리 스타일로 스타의 자리에 올랐다. 1962년부터 1963년까지가 절정기이며, 남성 컨트리 가수 가운데에서 최고의 영예를 누리기도 하였다. 건강한 남성미와 컨트리의 체취를 풍기면서 밝고 정력적으로 노래한 작품으로 〈이제는 그대를 내 것으로〉, 〈와이 베이비 와이〉가 있으며, 거기에 현대적인한 감각과 비트를 혼합시킨 쾌작으로 〈사랑의 레이스〉 등이 있다. 이 밖에 뉘앙스 짙은 바리톤으로 독특한 멜로디를 들려주는 발라드 류에는 〈2층의 창에서〉, 〈텐더 이어즈〉, 〈론리 넘버〉, 〈내 마음의 계절〉, 〈아무것도 아니야〉 등이 유명하다. .... ....
Well I swear, I didn't see you with your wife's best girlfriend Drinkin' beer and a dancin' to that western swing And I didn't see you kiss her and leave that barroom with her No I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
George, I know I didn't hear you tell that blonde that you weren't married, no I know I didn't see you hidin' your weddin' ring either did I? And I know I couldn't have heard you call your wife And tell her that you were working No, no I didn't see you, I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
We've got to stick together to keep our stories straight Now don't forget Ray I was down in Atlanta Sure you were and I was workin' late Yeah you know it's always good to see you George it's good to see you too, yeah But I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
Hey Ray by the way do you leave that hundred bucks you owe me I don't know what you're talkin' about George Well I'm sure you recall our bet on last night's football game No I don't but you know if I had seen you, I certainly would've paid ya But I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
We've got to stick together to keep our stories straight Don't forget I was down in Atlanta And don't you forget I was working late Oh you know it's always good to see you George it's good to see you too But I, I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing I didn't see you and I didn't see you and we didn't see a thing
I've had choices Since the day that I was born There were voices That told me right from wrong If I had listened No I wouldn't be here today Living and dying With the choices I made
I was tempted By an early age I found I liked drinking Oh, and I never turned it down There were loved ones But I turned them all away Now I'm living and dying With the choices I made
I've had choices Since the day that I was born There were voices That told me right from wrong If I had listened No, I wouldn't be here today Living and dying With the choices I made
I guess I'm paying For the things that I have done If I could go back Oh, Lord knows I'd run But I'm still losing This game of life I play Living and dying With the choices I made
I've had choices Since the day that I was born There were voices That told me right from wrong If I had listened No, I wouldn't be here today Living and dying With the choices I made
I have the invitation that you sent me You wanted me to see you change your name I couldn't stand to see you wed another But dear I hope you're happy just the same.
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel That should be ringing now for you and me Down the aisle with someone else you're walking Those wedding bells will never ring for me.
--- Instrumental ---
I planned a little cottage in the valley I even brought a little band of gold I thought someday I'll place it on your finger But now the future looks so dark and cold.
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses A blossom from an orange tree in your hair And while the organ plays I'll love you truly Please let me pretend that I am there.
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel Ever since the day you set me free I knew someday that you would wed another But wedding bells will never ring for me...
I know you tried your best to love me, You smiled when your heart told you to weep; You tried to pretend that you were happy, Last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
You gave the best years of your life, Dear, And each precious vow you tried to keep; I love you so much I want you happy, Last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
--- Instrumental ---
Your heart is yearning for an old love, With new love it's useless to compete; It hurts me to know you are unhappy, 'Cause, last night I heard you crying in your sleep.
You know that you are free to go, Dear, And don't mind if I start to weep; I know I can never make you happy, 'Cause last night I heard you crying in your sleep...
I just don't like this kind of livin' I'm tired of doin' all the givin' I give my all and sit and yearn and get no lovin' in return And I just don't like this kind of livin' Why do we stay together if we always fuss and fight You ain't never done to be wrong and I ain't never been right Tell me where you think we're goin' cause I ain't got no way of knowin' When things go wrong you go your way you leave me here to pay and pay And I just don't like this kind of livin' [ steel ] I just don't like the things you're doin' your evil heart will be your ruin When things start running smooth and free you haul right off and you pick on me And I just don't like this way of livin' They say the road of love is long it's rocky and it's rough But if this road don't start to get smooth I've traveled it long enough Why don't you act a little bit older and get that chip off of your shoulder Well I told you once now I'll tell you twice you better start to treatin' me nice Cause I just don't like this kind of livin'
Album: Sings the Hits of His Country Cousins Written by Hank Williams, Sr.
Everybody says you let me down That I should be ashamed to take you 'round Makes no difference what you used to do Darling, I could never be ashamed of you
Maybe you were reckless yesterday But together, we can find a brighter way In my heart, I know that you'll come through Darling, I could never be ashamed of you
All the happiness I've ever known Came the day you said you'd be my own And it matters not what we go through Darlin' I could never be ashamed of you
Maybe you've been cheated in the past And perhaps those memories will always last Even though you proved to be untrue Darlin' I could never be ashamed of you...
Well you wore out a brand new trunk packin' and unpackin' your junk Your daddy's mad he's done got peeved you're gonna change or I'm a gonna leave You're gonna change your way of livin' change the things you do Stop doin' all the things that you oughtn't to Your daddy's mad he's done got peeved you're gonna change or I'm a gonna leave Well now this ain't right that is wrong you just keep nuggin' me all the day long It's gotta stop I don't mean please you're gonna change or I'm a gonna leave The way they keep a lover happy make her do what's right It's love her every morning love her out at night Your daddy's mad he's done got peeved you're gonna change or I'm a gonna leave
Well now every time you get mad you pack your rags and you go back to dad You tell him lies he don't believe you're gonna change or I'm a gonna leave You're gonna change your way of livin'
I was ridin' No 9 headin' south from Caroline I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow Got in trouble had to roam I left my gal and left my home I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow.
Just a kid acting smart I went and broke my darling's heart I guess I was too young to know They took me off that Georgia Main locked me to a ball and chain I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow.
--- Instrumental ---
All alone I bear the shame, I'm a number not a name I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow All I do is sit and cry when the evening train goes by I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow.
I'll be locked here in this cell till my body's just a shell And my hair turns whiter than snow I'll never see that gal of mine, I'm in Georgia doing time I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow...
If today the sun should set on all my hopes and cares There is one who's smiling face, the God's would see 'Cause she'll walk along beside me, up to golden stairs Oh, they'll never, ever take her love from me.
What a fool I was to go and break the trust she gave And to see her love turn into sympathy It's the one regret I'll carry with me to my grave Oh, they'll never, ever take her love from me.
--- Instrumental ---
I'm so thankful for each golden hour of happiness That we shared together in the used to be Someone else's arms may hold her now in uncaress But they'll never, ever take her love from me.
I thought I could make her happy if I'd step aside But I knew her love would never set me free And even on the day that she became another's bride I'll say, they'll never, ever take her love from me...
Take these chains from my heart and set me free You've grown cold and no longer care for me All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on Take these chains from my heart and set me free.
Take these tears from my eyes and let me see Just a spark of the love that used to be If you love somebody new let me find a new love too Take these chains from my heart and set me free.
--- Instrumental ---
Give my heart just a word of sympathy Be as fair to my heart as you can be Then if you no longer care for the love that's beating there Take these chains from my heart and set me free.
Take these chains from my heart and set me free You've grown cold and no longer care for me All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on Take these chains from my heart and set me free...
Well, you tell me that you care But now you're gone you got me cryin' No use denyin' you done me wrong If I could look inside your heart Maybe I could find the reason Why you are leavin' me all alone.
Well, you know it's not so when you say It's not well, you know you lie I didn't do one wrong thing to you Won't you tell me baby why You went and left me here so lonely I miss only, for I love you.
--- Instrumental ---
Did I ever make you sad so you'd be mad And love to hurt me And desert me for so long Well, you're telling everyone what you done You think it's funny Well, listen honey, you done me wrong.
Well you know it's not so when you say It's not well you know you lie I didn't do one wrong thing to you Won't you tell me baby why You went and left me here so lonely I miss only, for I love you.
--- Instrumental ---
Well you know it's not so when you say It's not well you know you lie I didn't do one wrong thing to you Won't you tell me baby why You went and left me here so lonely I miss only, for I love you.
It's a sin, my darlin', how I love you Because I know our love can never be It's a sin to keep this memory of you When silence proves that you've forgetten me.
But dreams are built for us as humblers Each tie is broken like my heart It's a sin, my darling, how I love you So mush in love and yet so far apart
--- Instrumental ---
I'm sure you're happy with another Whose cares and lovin' I can't win Why pretend that I can live without you When deep inside I know that it's a sin...
If you want to see somebody cry their heart out For a love they lost and must live without If you're not afraid my misery might rub off on you Just hang around my tears are overdue.
If you want to hear confessions from a broken man Who once held a world of love, right in his hands If you wanna see a heartbreak. right in two in front of you Just hang around my tears are overdue.
Now there's not a way that I can say how much it really hurts When a broken heart and guilty conscience starts to work I hope you won't forget the sight you see today Just remember love I had then threw away.
If you're not afraid my misery might rub off on you Just hang around my tears are overdue. Just hang around my tears are overdue...
.... 
