Hank William – Your Cheatin’ Heart 

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Your Cheatin’ Heart (Song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Your Cheatin’ Heart”

Your Cheatin' Heart by Hank Williams (cover).jpeg
By Hank Williams (MGM Records) – Fair use, Link

1965 reissue single label
Single by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
A-sideKaw-Liga
PublishedOctober 31, 1952 
Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc.
ReleasedJanuary 1953
RecordedSeptember 23, 1952
StudioCastle Studio, Nashville
GenreCountry & WesternHonky-tonkCountry blues
Length2:38
LabelMGM K 11416-B
Songwriter(s)Hank Williams
Producer(s)Fred Rose
Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys singles chronology
I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive
(1953)”Your Cheatin’ Heart
(1953)”Take These Chains from My Heart
(1953)

Your Cheatin’ Heart” is a song written and recorded by country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1952. It is regarded as one of country’s most important standards. Williams was inspired to write the song while driving with his fiancée from Nashville, Tennessee, to Shreveport, Louisiana. After describing his first wife Audrey Sheppard as a “cheatin’ heart”, in minutes he dictated the lyrics to Billie Jean Jones. Produced by Fred Rose, Williams recorded the song at his last session at Castle Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 23.

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” was released in January 1953. Propelled by Hank Williams’ recent death during a trip to a New Year’s concert in Canton, Ohio, the song became an instant success. It topped Billboard’s Country & Western chart for six weeks, with over a million units sold. The success of the song continued with covers by other artists. Joni James‘ version reached number two on Billboard’s Most Played in Jukeboxes the same year, while Ray Charles‘ 1962 version reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The song ranked 213 on Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and was ranked number 5 on Country Music Television‘s 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

Background

By 1952, Williams was enjoying a successful streak, releasing multiple hits, including “Honky Tonk Blues“,

Hank Williams – Honky Tonk Blues

Half as Much“,

Hank Williams Sr. – Half As Much

Settin’ the Woods on Fire“,

Hank Williams – Settin' the Woods on Fire

Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Jambalaya on the Bayou – Hank Williams

and “You Win Again“.

Hank Williams – You Win Again

While his career was soaring, his marriage to Audrey Sheppard became turbulent. Already a periodic alcoholic, he developed serious problems with morphine and painkillers prescribed to ease his severe back pain caused by an unsuccessful operation to relieve spina bifida. The couple divorced on May 29. Soon after, Williams met Billie Jean Jones backstage at the Ryman Auditorium, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, who was, at the time, dating Faron Young. Williams started dating Jones, upon the end of her relationship with Young and soon began to plan their marriage. While driving from Nashville, Tennessee to Shreveport to announce the wedding to her parents, Williams talked to her about his previous marriage and described Audrey Sheppard as a “cheatin’ heart”,  adding that one day she would “have to pay”. Inspired by his line, he instructed Jones to take his notebook and write down the lyrics of the song that he quickly dictated.

Hank and Audrey Williams, 1952

Recording and release

Williams recorded the song on September 23 at the Castle Studio in Nashville. The session, which became Williams’ last, also produced the A-side “Kaw-Liga“, as well as the songs “I Could Never Be Ashamed of You”

Hank Williams I could never be ashamed of you

and “Take These Chains from My Heart“.

Hank Williams "Take These Chains From My Heart"

It was produced by Williams’ publisher Fred Rose, who made minor arrangements of the lyrics of “Your Cheatin’ Heart”. Williams described the song to his friend, Braxton Schuffert, as he was about to play it, as “the best heart song (he) ever wrote”. Williams is backed on the session by Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Chet Atkins (lead guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Floyd “Lightnin'” Chance (bass).

While traveling to a scheduled New Year’s show in Canton, Ohio, the driver found Williams dead on the back seat of the car during a stop in Oak Hill, West Virginia. “Your Cheatin’ Heart” was released at the end of January 1953. Propelled by Williams’ death, the song and the A-side “Kaw-Liga” became a hit, selling over a million records. Billboard initially described the songs as “superlative tunes and performances”, emphasizing the sales potential. Within a short time from its release, the song reached number one on Billboard’s Top C&W Records, where it remained for six weeks.

Legacy

Released in the wake of his death, the song became synonymous with the myth of Hank Williams as a haunted, lonely figure who expressed pain with an authenticity that became the standard for country music. The name of the song was used as the title of Hank Williams’ 1964 biopic.

Cheating Heart (1964) Trailer

“Your Cheatin’ Heart”, as well as other songs by Williams were performed on the movie, with George Hamilton dubbing the soundtrack album recorded by Williams’ son, Hank Williams Jr. Country music historian Colin Escott wrote that “the song – for all intents and purposes – defines country music.” In the 2003 documentary series Lost Highway, country music historian Ronnie Pugh comments, “It’s Hank’s anthem, it’s his musical last will and testament. It’s searing, it’s powerful, it’s gripping. If you want to say this is his last and best work, I wouldn’t argue with that.” AllMusic described the track as the “signature song” of Hank Williams, and an “unofficial anthem” of country musicRolling Stone called it “one of the greatest country standards of all time”, ranking it at number 217 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song ranked at number 5 in Country Music Television‘s 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music in 2003,

Two Pepsi Super Bowl commercials featured the song, one aired during Super Bowl XXX, featured Williams’ recording while a Coca-Cola deliveryman grabbed a Pepsi.

Pepsi Ad from 1996 – Coke Guy Caught on Cam (Your Cheatin' Heart)

The second one, aired during Super Bowl XLVI, featured the same situation, but with the song covered by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. The song forms the title of the 1990 TV drama ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’ by John Byrne.

Chart performance

Hank Williams

Chart (1953)Peak
position
Top C&W Records1

Cover versions

  • A version of the song by Joni James, released in 1953, reached number 2 on Billboard’s Most Played in Jukeboxes.
Joni James – Your Cheatin' Heart (1959)
  • In 1953, Frankie Laine‘s version reached number 18 on the Most Played in Jukeboxes chart.
Your Cheatin' Heart
Your Cheatin' Heart
  • In 1962, Patsy Cline released a version on her third and final studio album Sentimentally Yours. Cline’s vocals were overdubbed over a different arrangement for the soundtrack to Cline’s biographical movie Sweet Dreams.
Patsy Cline – Your Cheatin' Heart

Cover versions Chart performance

YearArtistChartPeak position
1953Joni JamesBillboard 
Most Played in Jukeboxes
2
Frankie LaineBillboard 
Most Played in Jukeboxes
18
1958George Hamilton IVBillboard 
Hot 100
72
1962Ray CharlesBillboard 
Hot 100
29
Billboard 
Top R&B Singles
23
UK Singles Chart13

Other Cover Versions

  • Kitty Wells – Your Cheatin’ Heart (1960)
Kitty Wells – Your Cheatin’ Heart (1960)
  • Connie Francis, Your Cheatin’ Heart ( 1959 )
Your Cheatin' Heart ( 1959 ) – CONNIE FRANCIS – Lyrics
  • Skeeter Davis, Your Cheatin’ Heart
Your Cheatin' Heart (Remastered 2015)
  • Petula Clark, Your Cheating Heart
PETULA CLARK YOUR CHEATING HEART
  • Elvis Presley-Your Cheatin’ Heart (1958)
Elvis Presley-Your Cheatin' Heart (1958)
  • Jerry Lee Lewis – Your Cheatin’ Heart with Norah Jones
Jerry Lee Lewis – Your Cheatin' Heart with Norah Jones
  • Jim van der Zee, Your Cheatin Heart
Your Cheatin Heart – Jim van der Zee
  • Your Cheatin’ Heart ( Hank Williams ) played by Eric
Your Cheatin' Heart ( Hank Williams ) played by Eric
  • Daniel O’Donnell – Your Cheatin’ Heart (Live at The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennesse)
Daniel O'Donnell – Your Cheatin' Heart (Live at The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennesse)
  • Charley Pride & Don Helms – “Your Cheatin’ Heart”
Charley Pride & Don Helms – "Your Cheatin' Heart"
  • Billy Vaughn, Your Cheatin’ Heart
Your Cheatin' Heart
  • Rhonda Vincent – Your Cheatin’ Heart
Rhonda Vincent – Your Cheatin' Heart
  • Jett Williams – Your Cheatin’ Heart
Jett Williams – Your Cheatin' Heart
  • David Church – You’re Cheatin’ Heart
David Church – You're Cheatin' Heart
  • LeAnn Rimes, Your Cheatin’ Heart
Your Cheatin' Heart
  • Loretta Lynn, Your Cheatin’ Heart
Your Cheatin' Heart
  • Kelly Clarkson – Your Cheatin’ Heart
Kelly Clarkson – Your Cheatin' Heart [Smoakstack Sessions]
  • Samantha Howell – Your Cheatin’ Heart
Samantha Howell 'Your Cheatin' Heart' (Hank Willams cover/lyrics)

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