Kaw-Liga

Kaw-Liga ( /kɔːˈlaɪdʒə/ kaw-ly-jə) is a country-music song written by Hank Williams and Fred Rose. Backed by the Drifting Cowboys, Hank Williams recorded the song in Nashville in September, 1952 and the single was released posthumously in January 1953 on the MGM Records label. It remained No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart for 14 weeks and reached No. 23 on the pop charts. The flipside, "Your Cheatin' Heart, remained No. 1 on the country chart for 6 weeks.[1]

Contents

Song

"Kaw-Liga" is a song about a wooden Indian, Kaw-Liga, who falls in love with an "Indian maid over in the antique store" but does not tell her so, being, as the lyrics say:

Too stubborn to ever show a sign,
Because his heart was made of knotty pine.

The Indian maid waits for Kaw-Liga to signal his affection for her, but he either refuses or is physically/emotionally unable (interpretations vary) to talk, ever the stoical Native American of the popular stereotype.[1] Because of his stubbornness, Kaw-Liga's love continues to be unrequited, with Hank Williams, the narrator/singer of the song lamenting,

Poor ol Kaw-liga, he never got a kiss,
Poor ol Kaw-liga, he don't know what he missed,
Is it any wonder that his face is red?
Kaw-liga, that poor ol' wooden head.

The song ends with the Indian maid being bought and taken away from the antique store by a buyer, leaving Kaw-Liga alone,

As lonely as can be,
And wishes he was still an ol' pine tree.

Cover versions

"Kaw-Liga" has been covered by artists such as Charley Pride, Roy Orbison, Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn, Boxcar Willie, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr., Don McLean, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys and Jayke Orvis & the Broken Band.

Hank owned a cabin in Kowaliga Bay on Lake Martin, Alabama. The home is now privately owned by Hank's daughter Jett Williams and is not open to the general public.

The avant-garde band The Residents recorded the song for their album Stars & Hank Forever: The American Composers Series, replacing its original backing music with the bassline of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. This was more than likely a reference to Williams' wife, who was named Billie Jean.

Notes

  1. ^ Jim Dawson, & Steve Propes (1992). What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record. Boston & London: Faber & Faber. pp. 111–114. ISBN 978-0-571-12939-3. 

External links

Preceded by
"Eddy's Song" by Eddy Arnold		 Country & Western National Best Sellers number one single
(Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys version)
February 21, 1953		 Succeeded by
"Mexican Joe" by Jim Reeves
Preceded by
"The Wild Side of Life"
by Hank Thompson		 Billboard C&W National Best Sellers
number-one single of the year
1953		 Succeeded by
"I Don't Hurt Anymore"
by Hank Snow
Preceded by
"While Your Lover Sleeps" by Leon Ashley		 RPM Country Tracks number one single
(Charley Pride version)
April 7-April 14, 1969		 Succeeded by
"The Name of the Game Was Love" by Hank Snow
Hank Williams
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