When my wife and I went on our first date, we didn’t even know about it at the time. Yes, really; here’s why, and I’m going to tell you. We were both in the same Colorado National Guard medical company that was at Fort Carson, Colorado, getting ready to deploy for what was then Operation Desert Shield. I was Headquarters Platoon Leader; she was 2nd Platoon Leader. Both of us were first lieutenants. Both of us were coming off of bad relationships. And one night, a group of people decided to blow off some steam by going to a local place I can only describe as a honky-tonk bar in Colorado Springs.
We knew each other before then, but that night, we ended up two-stepping to the live country band, then, later, we did a little hug-and-shuffle. Even after the night was over, we didn’t quite realize what had changed between the two of us, but we knew something had.
The rest, as they say, is history – a long history, 35 years, in fact.
So, honky-tonk bars and honky-tonk music have a special place in our hearts, even now, even after all these years. So, here, in order of release date, are six of my favorite honky-tonk (or honky-tonk-ish) tunes.
Hank Williams, Your Cheatin’ Heart (1953): Turns out that the origins of this song match the lyrics. Hank Williams had just divorced his wife of nine years, Audrey Mae Sheppard, who was the mother of Hank Williams, Jr., who appears later in this list. Hank’s drinking was apparently the cause of the break-up, but Hank did complain to another singer, Billie Jean Jones, about Audrey’s “cheatin’ heart.” Thus was born a great country song – and later, Billie Jean Jones became Hank’s next wife.
Sadly, the song was released posthumously, as Hank died of complications of heart disease late in 1952, before the song’s January 1953 release.
Read More: Start Your Weekend Right With Some Happy Rockabilly From Mel McDaniel
Loretta Lynn, Honky Tonk Girl (1968): The First Lady of Country Music wrote this song using a guitar she had been bought by her husband, Doolittle Lynn. She later said about the song:
"When I wrote this song, I didn't think anybody would ever hear this song. Doo bought me this little ol' $17 guitar. I thought it was the greatest thing I ever had, you know? It probably was. I wrote this song in about twenty minutes. I never dreamed that song would be heard, but then it was a single."
Willie Nelson, Whiskey River (1973): This version is a cover. The song was written by and first released by Texas native Johnny Bush on the 1972 album of the same name. Johnny Bush’s version did well enough, popping up to #14 on the Country charts. Then, when Willie recorded it the next year, the two old friends had a hit on their hands. But while it was released on Nelson’s 1973 album, it wasn’t released as a single until 1978, for reasons unknown.
Read More: Start Your Weekend Right With the Return of Southern Rock: Blackberry Smoke
Hank Williams Jr., Honky Tonkin’ (1982): It seems especially appropriate to include this here, as it was originally recorded and released in 1947, by Hank Williams Jr.’s father, the great Hank Williams. The Bocephus version landed at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1982; somehow, we hope that old Hank knows his son did him proud. Other covers have been done by Townes Van Zandt, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sissy Spacek and Waylon Jennings.
Dwight Yoakam, Honky Tonk Man (1986): This one was originally co-written and recorded by Johnny Horton, he of North to Alaska and The Battle of New Orleans fame. Johnny released the song in 1956, his first release on Columbia Records. And that’s interesting, as in 1986, it was Dwight Yoakam’s debut single. Dwight’s version appeared on his album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.. and topped out at an impressive #3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs in that year.Confederate Railroad, Trashy Women (1992): Yes, I know, it’s another cover. Songwriter Chris Wall wrote this song, and it was first recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker and released in 1989. Walker’s version reached #63 on the Hot Country charts, and later, Confederate Railroad’s version hit #10 on that same chart when released on the band’s first, eponymous album. While I always had a little hankering for some style and grace in my female companions, you can’t argue the appeal of someone like this:
I feel certain plenty of you readers have some favorite honky-tonk tunes of your own. You may have some great honky-tonk stories, too. As always, the comments are all yours! Regale us.Shoulda seen the looks on the faces of my Dad and Mom
When I showed up at the door with a date for the senior prom
They said: "Well, pardon us son, she ain't no kid
"That's a cocktail waitress in a Dolly Parton wig
I said: "I know it dad, ain't she cool, that's the kind I dig"
