Hank Williams III Drops Surprise Cover – 1st Song in 8 Years
It’s been about eight years since we’ve heard any new recorded material from Hank Williams III, seven years since he toured last, and about that long since we’ve heard much of anything from the third generation performer aside from collaborating with DevilDriver on an Outlaw country tribute in 2018.
But late Monday evening (5-24), Hank3 surprised everyone by dropping a surprise cover of “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” a.k.a. the “perfect country and Western song” made popular by David Allan Coe, and written by Steve Goodman and John Prine.
Releasing it solely on YouTube (see below), and addressing it simply as an “Outlaw Classic Country Cover, Played and Sang in real time no editing,” his haunting, slowed-down, and echo-rich version of the country classic clocks in at almost 7 minutes, and is being lapped up by thirsty and grateful Hank3 fans. No other explanation accompanies the release, but nobody’s complaining.
A couple of interesting notes about the song: Hank3 collaborated with David Allan Coe in 2013 on the 7-minute epic “The Outlaw Ways,” which is where the picture of the two of them together comes from.
Also, though the date has been disputed by some, May 24th is recognized as the day in 1971 when Steve Goodman and John Prine wrote “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” in a suite at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel after performer Paul Anka let the two hungry and up-and-coming songwriters stay there, and they raided the room’s liquor cabinet.
For years nobody knew John Prine was a co-writer of the song, but he revealed it later in life. The story of how the song was written is the subject of Episode 2 of Saving Country Music’s Country History X podcast.
So whether it’s by complete chance or on purpose, Hank3’s version of “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” is being delivered on the 50th Anniversary of the song’s writing.
Here’s to Hank3’s return, David Allan Coe, Steve Goodman, John Prine, and classic Outlaw country.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:38 pm
!!!!
May 24, 2021 @ 8:43 pm
Beyond the fact that song is horribly overdone at this point, this is easily the most self-indulgent version of it I’ve ever heard. If this is what he’s going to put out after eight years he might as well just stay on hiatus.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:54 pm
I like it for what it is, which is a classic country cover dropped on YouTube bootleg style at 9:00 p.m. on a Monday.
This isn’t some comeback single.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:57 pm
Cool story bro.
May 24, 2021 @ 9:04 pm
Get out of 2011 with that kind of comment ????
May 25, 2021 @ 10:19 am
“…easily the most self-indulgent version…”
^
He sings it like a true, spiteful smartass
April 21, 2022 @ 12:27 pm
It’s not sung to the song’s actual tune. So …. I’m not sure I get it.
August 7, 2022 @ 3:11 pm
Hank you’re talented enough not to have to rely on reverb to get your point across. Now pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get it together man.
May 24, 2021 @ 9:03 pm
F***ing Dreadful
May 24, 2021 @ 9:45 pm
I like Steve Goodman, Coe, and Hank III. Those who haven’t listened to Goodman’s catalog really should.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:34 am
Absolutely! Both were infinitely better than this.
August 6, 2021 @ 9:52 am
I’ll Keep on Rawkin in the 3 World ????
May 25, 2021 @ 1:52 am
I’m so happy to hear him. I love his voice. I listen to my least favorite Hank3 albums more than I listen to most anything else.
May 25, 2021 @ 3:33 am
I love it Hank 3
May 25, 2021 @ 3:39 am
September 2014 to May 2021 is 6 yrs and 8 months but who’s counting, right…
May 25, 2021 @ 5:17 am
I like it. Not many people can sound like they’re struggling to keep down a cupful of bad whiskey.
May 25, 2021 @ 6:35 am
Whats up with the weird intentional echo? Sounds like he literally ran the vocal mic through an old school echo/delay pedal on max. Aesthetic?
Dont get me wrong, lots of singers throw some echo behind their voice to give it a bit more punch, but this is waaay over the top. I guess hes just trying to make it weird, because, well…hes like that.
May 25, 2021 @ 6:56 am
It reminds me of a lot of his older stuff which had vocal delays like that. So much so, I was wondering if this was an old recording that he might have decided to put online because of the anniversary. I don’t think it’s surprising if you’re familiar with his back catalogue.
Now it’s been a while since I’ve listened to his records so can’t think of an example, but definitely not something new.
As far as the song itself, I don’t think I’ll be listening to it a second time. Too little going on for too long. Just like some of III’s doom/metal stuff.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:19 am
I bet you’re right. This was probably recorded over 15 years ago. It is more similar to the sound of Straight to Hell than any of his other albums.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:35 am
Not sure if this is an old or new recording. Kind of sounds like a newer recording to me. But it definitely fits the ‘Straight to Hell” Disc 2 vibe. Not sure what some are expecting here. This is Hank3’s wheelhouse.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:44 am
No criticism in my comment. Just pointing out that it sounds old, like it was recorded for Straight to Hell.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:49 am
No, I’m totally on board with you. I was more commenting about all the negative comments coming in for this from others. It’s like they don’t know what Hank3 does.
What’s strange is folks are liking and sharing this like crazy on social media, but most of the comments are how it sucks. I think the silent majority of Hank3 fans know what’s up.
May 25, 2021 @ 8:31 am
Based on the change to the lyrics, it was recorded after Merle Haggard’s death in 2016.
May 25, 2021 @ 8:36 am
Good point.
May 25, 2021 @ 11:32 am
I still really enjoy a lot of Hank 3’S 2000 era work, but hearing new stuff released with that same feel sounds dated and stale.
May 25, 2021 @ 8:35 am
He says rest his soul when talking about the Hag so its within the last few years
May 27, 2021 @ 8:41 pm
Can’t be THAT old because he says “rest his soul” after Merle Haggard, who didn’t die until 2016.
May 25, 2021 @ 6:37 am
Hank3 is got a talent like no other,but i think his grandpa would question this cut. love to listen to the 3 hanks have all my life, david allen coe makes good music,also to me hank3 is searching for something he may never find .pull yourself up by the boot straps and be the entainer that you are hank3.love ya brother the lord will set you free.not trying to offend you hank i just know your good man entertainer andwell you know my friend,
May 25, 2021 @ 7:10 am
Awful
May 26, 2021 @ 6:07 am
Love Hank 3.!
May 25, 2021 @ 7:16 am
Shakespeare couldn’t put into words how horrible that is.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:54 am
Don’t care what it is. If this motivates Mr. 3, then I love it.
May 26, 2021 @ 2:43 pm
Doesn’t hold a candle to DAC’s original version, but that’s the way most covers are. Sorry III but I doubt it will ever be a hit.
December 21, 2021 @ 10:17 am
Apology accepted
May 25, 2021 @ 8:02 am
Keep it up lll I think you done good on the cover song hell you Hanked it just like you should had hoping to get to see you sing it live soon Soddy daisy TN
May 25, 2021 @ 8:11 am
Good to hear Shelton!
May 25, 2021 @ 8:29 am
Well I’m personally glad to see anything “new” to come from 3!!! I was also curious if this was recently recorded or just something he came across and decided to share it. I kinda think it is a newer recording, or maybe at least hoping so. The track is just a ruff home recorded demo so you can’t expect a full quality level recording. I’m personally glad just to see some activity from his page especially that it appears to be him making the posts.
May 25, 2021 @ 8:32 am
I love early Bocephus (pre Born to Boogie), and Hank Williams will go down as one of the most prolific songwriting talents of all time. I really wanted to like Hank 3, but I just can’t get into him. I think Holly got the talent DNA. Just my opinion. I appreciated however learning about John Prine being a part of this song. As a performing artist, I have grown bored with singing it, but maybe this will help me view form a different light.
May 25, 2021 @ 1:36 pm
You should check out her sister Audrey then.
Seems Holly is doing the family thing now, no music from her in ages and I thought she had a nice sound.
May 25, 2021 @ 9:17 am
I loved it and Hank the third is a national treasure along with David Allen Coe So Andrew go F_ _ k your self
May 25, 2021 @ 10:58 pm
David ALLAN Coe
May 25, 2021 @ 9:30 am
Its just a song done by a guy who is as famous as his grand dad and his dad and like them its a good thing he dont care about what any of you assholes think about his music or style of singing it so at least the rest of his fan that do like it get to here it
May 25, 2021 @ 9:49 am
You all should check out YouTube to find Steve Goodman singing this tune with just him and a guitar. So fantastic to see the spirit rising out of that man.
May 27, 2021 @ 7:03 pm
He turned a good song into crap. Wipe it and flush it.
May 25, 2021 @ 10:31 am
Musical trends come and go. Say what you will about the quality of this but III always does III.
Personally, this song is exactly what I expect from a III cover.
May 25, 2021 @ 10:48 am
One of my favorites from DAC. Not going to rate 3’s version since it’s a YouTube post. Just hoping it’s a sign he’s getting back to work.
May 25, 2021 @ 11:34 am
If this is what we’ve got to look forward to, let’s hope there’s not a Hank IV.
May 25, 2021 @ 12:27 pm
In fact, there are 2.
May 25, 2021 @ 6:07 pm
You know Hank III’s son released a single about a month ago it’s been pretty well covered here and other places.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:30 pm
Did not know that.
Hope to hell he’s better than his dad.
May 25, 2021 @ 12:00 pm
Hank 3 is not near as famous as his grand dad. Hank 3 is a joke. Even his own dad knows that Hank 3 is a joke. He sounds constipated when he sings. So tired of hearing people that dont know any better saying he looks and sounds like his grandpa.
May 25, 2021 @ 12:26 pm
Uh, uh uh uh
It’s big pimpin’ baby
It’s big pimpin’, spendin’ G’s
Feel me uh-huh uh, uh-huh
Ge-ge-geyeah, geyeah
Ge-ge-geyeah, geyeah
May 25, 2021 @ 1:38 pm
Well, when 3 wants to sound like his grandfather, he can.
Same as Hank Jr. For example, see the your cheatin’ heart soundtrack, which Jr. sang. It’s scary how much he can sound like Sr. when he wants to.
May 25, 2021 @ 12:10 pm
i agree. i liked it for what it was. really good song. good to hear from him again.
May 25, 2021 @ 2:14 pm
Shelton thank you for the tribute to Goodman, Prine, and DAC. Those of us who’ve had the thrill of seeing a crowd explode when III came on stage welcome this classic sung as a dirge and only wish the best for Shelton and a possible return to music. Those of us Coe heads who are lucky to be able to see David multiple times at the the Iron Horse in October and March know Father Time has weakened him and multiple physical ailments make it all the more special to still get those goose bumps when he sings-we know each Sunday when he leaves the Horses stage that it might very well be his farewell show and when he joins Merle and Billy Joe and all our other country heroes another chapter will close. Those who are all so judgmental on this tribute imho have missed the whole point, my 2 cents
May 25, 2021 @ 11:10 pm
Just want to tell DAC fans that a new book about him will be out soon. His bass player Mickey Hayes details life on the road in the 70’s/80’s and tells it like it is and was…”My Life On The Road With David Allan Coe
May 25, 2021 @ 3:12 pm
You have to ask yourself, if it wasn’t fir Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr would you ever even know who this guy is? I’d bet not. I see folks calling this outlaw country or some other niche genre but seriously this guy literally can’t sing nor would anybody remotely consider putting him on an album if it wasn’t for the 2 guys before him with the Same last name.
May 27, 2021 @ 9:18 pm
You may be right mike,but don’t hate him for it.you can choose your friends.you get family good or bad.
Can’t speak of his friends,but he was sure blessed with family…
May 25, 2021 @ 5:04 pm
I’d take an album of this over anything else right now
May 25, 2021 @ 6:33 pm
He sings this in a way that showcases how sad the lyrics actually are. Hope we get some more from him.
May 25, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
Last night was thinking about Hank 3 & wondering what’s going on. Hadn’t listened to him in a while & listened to the dog benefit concert. Dog Tails or something like that & then today, this surprise. Why’s everyone complaining? Have you heard country radio lately? Hank, hope to hear more & your dogs are barking up trees. We recently got a Mountain Cur.
May 25, 2021 @ 11:24 pm
Heads up to DAC fans around the world
New David Allan Coe book will be out soon
Written by his bass player in the 70’s/80’s,
Mickey Hayes, it tells it like it was on the road with DAC back then. The “real deal”
as he told me????☠️ It’s called MY LIFE ON THE ROAD WITH DAVID ALLAN COE
May 26, 2021 @ 2:36 am
Lmao to all these hating ass SOB’s on here just cause III hasn’t been around, but can you blame him?
What was once a rich and burgeoning scene of great musicians, outlaws and reemergence of some semblance of what country music could be has been replaced with patch wearing scenesters that wouldn’t know the soul of outlaw or country music of it shit on their porch.
It’s just as bad as pop punk in late 90’s/00’s, just as kitchy as psychobilly has become.
If there is anyone that’s been true to themselves, the music and their lineage it’s Shelton Hank Williams III. Period.
Keep it real folks because all this shit talking and bloviating is gonna guarantee we never hear or see from III again, which I wouldn’t blame him if we didn’t.
May 26, 2021 @ 6:18 am
This sounds like he recorded it on his ipad. Being semi-famous seems to give people a pass on creating half assed garbage. If someone you never heard of sent this to you you would delete it.
May 26, 2021 @ 5:44 pm
I think it’s just fine for what it is. If it sounded like that on a record I wouldn’t care a lot for it. Like some have said, maybe it will lead to better things
May 26, 2021 @ 8:20 am
First off, you so called music geniuses, it’s DAVID ALLAN COE. Not Allen, but ALLAN. Secondly, Shelton and this cover are just fine for what it is, him sitting around his house, singing a Coe tune and releasing it to let everyone know he is still here and I would imagine getting ready to drop something new on us.
For you folks that don’t get Shelton, you aren’t ever gonna get him. You start this nonsense about it’s awful, it’s this, it’s that, he can’t sing, on and on with your drivel.
These same people blasting Shelton are the same people who think Eric Church and Miranda Lambert contribute something to the music industry. Or…pleasure themselves to Chris Stapleton, thinking R&B music is country music.
Country music has always been about hard times, despair, cheating, drinking, drugging, dogs and momma’s dying and having a damn good time.
Shelton digs into these subjects. You can like it, you cannot like it. Fact is, Shelton created a subgenre of music his damn self. A whole bunch of people gravitate towards Shelton and his songs resonate with them. Having fun, doing outlaw shit. They don’t gravitate towards the type of music that is fake, poser type shit. Which is the majority of music. One of these days, Trigger will tire of you, tire of writing about Eric Church, tire of you coming in here, bragging about how country Miranda Lambert is, all the while, you will trash Sarah Shook, who would knife you as soon as look at you, then sing you a song why she cut you. Shelton comes more from an Antiseen, Hellstomper, Unknown Hinson world than a fake, bullshit world of Maureen Morris, Jason Isbell crying about whatever injustice they woke up wailing about this morning. Life is hard. You get the fuck up and go on with your life…
Bunch of bullshit.
Seriously, piss off. Quit commenting on Hank 3 stuff if all you can do is say negative shit. The reason you people don’t like him has alot more to do with the way he carries himself and his politics probably differ quite a bit from yours, you know it and so the I hate Shelton shit stains fill comment sections.
Why you think he has been gone for 8 years? You think he just got writer’s block? Can’t make music anymore? Nope. Tired of shit stains is why.
As Phil Anselmo said to the crowd a few years back in Dallas, as Antifa decided to protest a Superjoint show.
You know what to do.
May 27, 2021 @ 8:44 pm
Well said! I’ll take this over “that shit they call pop country music” every day of the week.
April 18, 2022 @ 2:54 pm
Well, said brother. Fact of the matter is Shelton is one of the few real artist left in the industry and that is why the masses don’t like him. He can’t be controlled. He knows, I know it and that’s why we need him more than ever. Just one more tour with a few dates here in West by God. We could all use some inspiration.
May 26, 2021 @ 9:03 am
THANK YOU SHELLY, I still love you with all my heart and I look forward to seducing your sexy fine ass and making plenty of beautiful babies.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Shelton Hank Williams III
P.S. How bout some new dick pics, please.
May 21, 2023 @ 2:36 pm
Wow ????! You’re joking , right ? He sent dick pics to you ???? dang ????
May 26, 2021 @ 9:30 am
\m/ ——— Back In the Saddle Again! ——— =)
May 26, 2021 @ 3:48 pm
meet my wife at david allen coe concert twenty tears ago she was backstage waitress at billly bobs texas alway liked him
May 27, 2021 @ 11:14 am
Like hearing the sound of whales after a tsunami… ????
May 27, 2021 @ 5:31 pm
Great to hear from the Hellbilly King, with only the 3 twist that he can put on covers, not overdoing to try to seriously outdo a classic.. but just let the mic roll with a guitar and put a llittle space on it. All his fans are itching at his return and with the Covid bullshit easing up, I smell a tour and album soon, hope like hell I’m right. Direly needed.
May 27, 2021 @ 8:32 pm
I’m thrilled beyond words!!!!! I tell everyone Hank 3 is my secret boyfriend hahaha and then I say don’t tell him because it’s a secret ????????❤️
May 30, 2021 @ 10:05 pm
Love it!!!
June 12, 2021 @ 9:48 am
Hank3 is my favorite male singer. I think he is extremely unique et émotive et authentique
August 13, 2021 @ 10:53 am
I fuckin love it! I have wanted to see Hank 3 perform for so long. I dont get ppl that gotta take time to say negative…u dont like it move on…. I really hope he goes on tour and I get a chance to see a show
October 29, 2021 @ 4:57 pm
HW3: F— the haters. I’m 64 and just started listening to your catalog. And your You Tube Vids. Awesome body of work. Only wish I’d discovered you earlier. Peace.
June 26, 2022 @ 8:06 am
This Rebel kicked out a lot of great country music for quite a few years, his way! As far as I’m concerned he can put out whatever the F he wants and I’ll enjoy it. Remember these guys are humans not robots.