Hand Me Down
Legacy in Strings: Hank Williams, Jr.'s Poignant Hand Me Down Tale
Lyrics
I went down to the country music hall of fame
I visited the country music hall of fame.
They had asked me to bring
They requested more belongings of my father, Hank Williams.
Them more of daddy's things
Referring to items associated with his father.
They said"Hank you know someday you may
They mentioned the possibility of him being inducted into the hall of fame with his father someday.
Go in here with him"
Reflecting on the potential shared induction with his father.
And I thought about the note he wrote
Thinking about a note his father wrote.
But I've never told none of them
He has kept the note a secret from others.
I've got songs of his no one has
He possesses unreleased songs of his father.
Seen and momentoes that sure chill
He has meaningful mementos related to his father.
But that note I found in his guitar
The note in his father's guitar case made him emotional.
Case made me cry like a wipperwill
The note made him cry deeply.
He said son this is my old guitar
His father's declaration about the guitar being exclusively for him.
And it's for you only to play
A hope that he will play the guitar in the family tradition.
And I hope you make it ring and
A desire for the guitar to resonate with the family's style.
Talk in our good ole family way
Encouragement to pass on the guitar to future generations.
And if you make it to the top Bocephus
If he achieves success, his father will be proud.
Boy I'll be so proud but listen to me son
Advice about what to do when he reaches the top.
When the time comes take this
To hand down the guitar when the time comes.
Guitar and hand me down
The importance of passing down traditions.
Hand me down if your weary
To pass on the guitar when feeling weary.
Hand me down son if you get sick or
Passing down in times of sickness or fatigue.
Tired hand me down when the time comes
To hand down when the appropriate time arrives.
Don't hang on to long to these sad ole songs
Not to cling too long to sad songs.
Hand me down so I took his note and put
He puts the note back into the guitar case.
It back into his guitar case
Reflecting on his long journey and numerous performances.
And I realized how long I've been on the
Realization of the time spent on the road.
Road and how many shows I've played
Considering the shows he has played.
And sometimes late at night standing in
Occasionally feeling his father's presence on stage.
Front of some big crowd
Imagining his father calling his name.
I swear I've heard him call my name
His father's directive to "Hand me down."
And tell me Hand me down
To pass down when feeling weary.
Hand me down if your weary hand me
To hand down in times of tiredness.
Down son if you just get tired
Passing down to his son when needed.
Hand me down my son to your son
To teach his son all his songs.
Teach him all your songs
Instructing his son to continue the family musical tradition.
And how his granddaddy
Extending the teaching to future generations.
Moaned and tell that boy to carry on
Encouraging the continuation of the family legacy.
You teach him all your songs
Reiteration of teaching songs to his son.
And how his granddaddy moaned
Continuation of the family's musical legacy.
And tell that boy hand me down
Repeating the instruction to "hand me down."
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