The Top 20 Country Love Songs of All Time - Number 7

by Jim Poulton

Hank Williams - I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You

Image courtesy of Last.fm.

Hank Williams was a master of expressing a universe of feeling within the confines of a simple 8-bar verse. You might say he was as much of a painter as he was a singer: close your eyes and listen to the lyrics of this song, and see if you don’t get a vivid and dramatic picture of Hank and the woman he’s lost. The song is simple, with straightforward chording and unembellished accompaniment - but front-lined by Williams’ lovesick voice and southern drawl, it’s a masterpiece.

Williams died at the age of 29 – likely a result of mixing alcohol and drugs. Williams’ alcoholism was legendary – his friend and idol, Roy Acuff, once said to him ‘You’ve got a million-dollar voice, son, but a ten-cent brain.’ Wish Hank had listened.

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