Kaw-Liga

"Kaw-Liga" is one of just a handful of songs that Williams wrote with Fred Rose, who produced his records and published his songs through his company Acuff-Rose. Rose often "doctored" the songs Hank composed, making suggestions and revisions, with biographer Roger M. Williams noting that Rose's contribution to Hank's songs was probably craftsmanship, whereas Williams' was genius. Roy Acuff later recalled:

"Hank would come up with the ideas, and Fred would say, 'Well, write it down and let me look at it.' Hank'd bring it to Fred, and Fred would sit at the piano and complement Hank and say, "Maybe you can express this a little differently, let's change it a little bit,' but Fred never changed Hank's thinking."^[1]

Kawliga is a community in central Alabama on Lake Martin. Named after a legendary Indian for which a wooden statue was later placed near the lake, the song was written by Hank when he was staying at a lakeside cabin that he owned and still stands today. The song tells the story of 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.^[2] 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.

Recording and release

The song was recorded as part of William's final recording session on September 23, 1952 at Castle Studio in Nashville. The remarkably productive session also produced "I Could Never Be Ashamed of You," (written for his soon-to-be wife Billie Jean), "Take These Chains From My Heart" (also written by Rose), and Hank's masterpiece ballad "Your Cheatin' Heart." More than any other song, "Kaw-Liga" bears evidence of the guiding hand of Rose, who moulded the song into nothing like Williams had recorded up to that point. It begins in a minor key, which modulates into a major key on the chorus, and also features big band drummer Farris Coursey, who had played brushes on Williams' previous song "Moanin' the Blues" and played in WSM's dance band.^[3] In addition, the song fades out, the only Hank Williams song to do so. Williams is also backed by Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Chet Atkins (lead guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance (bass). The single was released posthumously in January 1953 on the MGM Records label and it remained No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart for 14 weeks.^[4] The flipside, "Your Cheatin' Heart, remained #1 on the country chart for 6 weeks.^[5]

A demo version of Williams singing "Kaw-Liga" with just his guitar, likely recorded in 1951,^[6] is also available. On the recording, Williams flubs a chord and can be heard muttering "shit" before starting the song again.

Cover versions

Champ Butler was the first to record the song, predating Williams' release.
Marty Robbins included it as the opening track of his self-titled 1958 LP.
Johnny and the Hurricanes released an instrumental version of the song in 1963.
Del Shannon recorded it for his 1964 album Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams.
Charley Pride took a live version of the song to #3 on the country singles chart in 1969.
Loretta Lynn recorded it in 1969.
Roy Orbison recorded it for his tribute album Hank Williams the Roy Orbison Way in 1970.
Doc Watson recorded a version for his 1974 album Two Days in November.
Hank Williams's son, Hank Williams Jr., recorded a cover which peaked at number twelve on the Billboard country singles chart in the summer of 1980. Hank, Jr. also performed it on a television special with Johnny Cash.
The avant-garde band The Residents recorded the song for their 1986 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

↑ Escott, Colin & 2004 124.
↑ "Journal of American Indian Education-Arizona State University". asu.edu.
↑ Escott, Colin & 2004 324.
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 388.
↑ 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.
↑ Escott, Colin & 2004 328.

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

Discography Songs

Albums	Hank Williams Sings Hank Williams on Stage 40 Greatest Hits Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts The Complete Hank Williams Memorial Album

Songs	"Move It On Over" "Honky Tonkin'" "I Saw the Light" "Lovesick Blues" "Mind Your Own Business" "Lost Highway" "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" "Why Don't You Love Me" "Cold, Cold Heart" "Hey Good Lookin'" "Honky Tonk Blues" "Half as Much" "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" "You Win Again" "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" "Kaw-Liga" "Your Cheatin' Heart" "Take These Chains from My Heart" "The Blues Come Around" "Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)" "The Pale Horse and His Rider"

Family	Hank Williams Jr. Jett Williams Hank Williams III Holly Williams

Related articles	Death of Hank Williams List of tributes to Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys Sterling Records MGM Records Grand Ole Opry The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs, 1950 Rufus Payne

Charley Pride

Studio albums	Make Mine Country Songs of Pride...Charley That Is Country Feelin' Pride of America There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me

Compilation albums	The Incomparable Charley Pride

Notable singles	"Kaw-Liga" "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me" "I'd Rather Love You" "I'm Just Me" "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" "All His Children" "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer" "She's Too Good to Be True" "A Shoulder to Cry On" "Don't Fight the Feelings of Love" "Amazing Love" "We Could" "Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town" "Then Who Am I" "I Ain't All Bad" "Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You)" "The Happiness of Having You" "My Eyes Can Only See as Far as You" "A Whole Lotta Things to Sing About" "She's Just an Old Love Turned Memory" "I'll Be Leaving Alone" "More to Me" "Someone Loves You Honey" "When I Stop Leavin' (I'll Be Gone)" "Burgers and Fries" "Where Do I Put Her Memory" "You're My Jamaica" "Missin' You" "Honky Tonk Blues" "You Win Again" "You Almost Slipped My Mind" "Roll On Mississippi" "Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)" "Mountain of Love" "I Don't Think She's in Love Anymore" "You're So Good When You're Bad" "Why Baby Why" "More and More" "Night Games" "Ev'ry Heart Should Have One" "The Power of Love" "Have I Got Some Blues for You" "Shouldn't It Be Easier Than This" "I'm Gonna Love Her on the Radio"

Related articles	Discography RCA Records 16th Avenue Records Pride: A Tribute to Charley Pride

Hank Williams, Jr.

Studio albums	Your Cheatin' Heart Connie Francis and Hank Williams, Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites Ballads of the Hills and Plains Blues My Name A Time to Sing Songs My Father Left Me Luke the Drifter, Jr. Vol. 2 Live at Cobo Hall After You, Pride's Not Hard to Swallow Hank Williams, Jr. and Friends Family Tradition Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Habits Old and New Rowdy The Pressure Is On High Notes Strong Stuff Man of Steel Major Moves Five-O Montana Cafe Hank Live Born to Boogie Wild Streak Lone Wolf Pure Hank Maverick Out of Left Field Hog Wild A.K.A. Wham Bam Sam Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts Stormy The Almeria Club Recordings I'm One of You 127 Rose Avenue It's About Time

Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits Vol. II Fourteen Greatest Hits Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 America (The Way I See It) The Best of Hank Williams, Jr. Volume One: Roots and Branches Tribute to My Father 20 Hits Special Collection, Vol. 1 Early Years, Vol. 1 Early Years, Vol. 2 The Bocephus Box That's How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection

Notable singles	"Long Gone Lonesome Blues" "Nobody's Child" "All for the Love of Sunshine" "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" (with Lois Johnson) "Eleven Roses" "Rainy Night in Georgia" "I'll Think of Something" "I Fought the Law" "To Love Somebody" "Family Tradition" "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" "Women I've Never Had" "Kaw-Liga" "Old Habits" "Texas Women" "Dixie on My Mind" "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" "A Country Boy Can Survive" "Honky Tonkin'" "The American Dream" "Gonna Go Huntin' Tonight" "Leave Them Boys Alone" (with Ernest Tubb and Waylon Jennings) "Queen of My Heart" "Man of Steel" "Attitude Adjustment" "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" "Major Moves" "I'm for Love" "This Ain't Dallas" "Ain't Misbehavin'" "Country State of Mind" "Mind Your Own Business" (with Reba McEntire, Tom Petty, Reverend Ike and Willie Nelson) "Born to Boogie" "Heaven Can't Be Found" "Young Country" "If the South Woulda Won" "Early in the Morning and Late at Night" "There's a Tear in My Beer" (with Hank Williams Sr.) "Finders Are Keepers" "Ain't Nobody's Business" "Good Friends, Good Whiskey, Good Lovin'" "Devil in the Bottle" "Are You Ready for the Country?" (with Eric Church)

Guest singles	"The Conversation" (with Waylon Jennings) "Bartender Song (Sittin' at a Bar)" (with Rehab)

Related articles	Discography MGM Records Elektra Records Warner Bros. Records Curb Records Audrey Williams Jett Williams Hank Williams III Holly Williams Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story

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