On a cool January night in 1947, country singer Hank Williams slept in the backseat of his car as his mother drove him home from a show. They were on their way to Montgomery, Alabama, and Williams always knew they were close to home when the light of the Dannelly Field airport tower came into view. On this particular winter night, since Williams was asleep in the back seat, his mother Lillie made note of the bright light.
As they passed by the airport, she got her son’s attention and said, “Hank, I just saw the light.” Though Williams was groggy from his post-performance nap, he still had the wherewithal to know a hit lyric when he heard one. From the time it took them to pass by Dannelly Field and return home to Montgomery, Williams had already written the lyrics to a song.
A Musician Who Transformed Country Music
Hank Williams, whose given name was Hiram King Williams, was born on Sept. 17, 1923, in Butler County, Alabama. His family, headed up by parents Lillie and Elonzo, lived in rural Mount Olive, a community in Butler County. Williams’s father Elonzo was a railroad engineer before serving in World War I. Injuries sustained during his military stint meant he was be away from the family for extended periods while receiving medical treatments, even long after Hank was born. Elonzo moved the family several times while looking for work. Despite his struggles with injuries and medical treatments, he ensured his family was looked after, even through the Great Depression, one of America’s toughest periods.
Williams’s earliest musical memories were time spent with his mother, Lillie, at Mount Olive Baptist Church. She played the piano and introduced him to Christian hymns, igniting his love of gospel music from a young age. At just 6 years old, he was gifted his first instrument, a harmonica. His aunt taught him his first chords on a guitar, and by 8 years old, Lillie had bought him one of his own.
He learned to play guitar from a local Alabama bluesman, Rufus Payne, who placed importance on timing and rhythm. Later, Williams paired this rhythmic playing with narrative lyrics, and songs revolving around personal stories.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
On April 21, 1947, Williams recorded “I Saw the Light” for MGM Records. He'd recently signed on to the company’s roster, and after recording his first song with them, “Move It on Over,” he followed that up with his freshly written country-gospel track.“I Saw the Light” is a song about finding redemption through the grace of God. Though he wrote it in mere minutes, the simple song’s message stems from a lifetime of trials and tribulations the artist experienced. For Williams, “I Saw the Light” was about the hope and peace that can be found even after wandering off a righteous course.
Williams’s own inspiration for the song came from his lifelong bout with debilitating back pain. A childhood diagnosis revealed he was born with spina bifida. The condition, caused by an improper forming of the spine and spinal cord, caused chronic health issues and pain for the songwriter. He often turned to alcohol in desperation to ease the pain—even on the night he penned “I Saw the Light.” Aside from his fatigue from the show, he'd imbibed too much to drive, which is why his mother was behind the wheel.
Finding Peace in Singing Hymns
When the single was released in September 1948, it didn’t receive much fanfare. Music historians have noted that it bears a resemblance in both melody and select lyrics to gospel writer Albert E. Brumley’s classic tune, “He Set Me Free,” released in 1939. The Christian song became a favorite among Brumley followers. However, Williams’s gospel hymn, “I Saw the Light,” took some time to catch on.
He performed the tune on the television show, the Kate Smith Evening Hour, when he appeared on the program for the first time in 1952. He also kept it in regular rotation for his live sets. Despite a lukewarm initial release, Williams’s determination to play the single live paid off. A grassroots movement grew among his fans. Eventually, he closed out every show with “I Saw the Light.” The song was the ideal encore for concertgoers.
“I Saw the Light” was the first of several hymn-style tunes the country artist penned. Country-gospel songwriting became one of Williams’s trademark sounds. The writing style proved to be a healing force for the musician at times.
A Genre-Defining Song
Now, Williams is viewed as one of America’s most influential songwriters of the 20th century. His music, which uniquely combines blues, gospel, and bluegrass stylings, helped shape what country music is today.
In January 1953, six years after penning his most influential song, Williams passed away at the age of 29 from heart failure.
In 1961, he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2015, Hank Williams’s biopic was released, starring actor Tom Hiddleston. Its title, “I Saw the Light,” wasn’t chosen because it’s one of the musicians’ most enduring songs. It was chosen because it perfectly sums up Williams’s legacy.
“I Saw the Light” remains one of country music’s most historically important songs, positively affecting innumerable listeners over 76 years. It has been covered over the years by popular musicians such as Roy Acuff, Merle Haggard, Bill Monroe, and Josh Turner. It remains an uplifting message of redemption, peace, and hope for all who turn to it in times of great need.
