"Kaw-Liga" ( ) is a
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
song written by
Hank Williams and
Fred Rose.
Background
"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 Williams composed, making suggestions and revisions, with biographer Roger M. Williams (no known relation) noting that Rose's contribution to Williams' songs was probably craftsmanship, whereas Williams' was genius.
Roy Acuff later recalled:
Content
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:
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. Some interpret Kaw-Liga as a stoical Native American
stereotype; however, the subject of masculine pride and emotional hardness is a popular one in country music, and the then-common "dime-store Indians" (which were the store's way of advertising that they sold tobacco) being made of unmoving wood was a perfect symbol of an aversion to expression of emotion. Because of his stubbornness, Kaw-Liga's love continues to be unrequited, with
Hank Williams, the narrator/singer of the song lamenting,
The song ends with the Indian maid being bought and taken away from the antique store by a buyer, leaving Kaw-Liga alone, and he
Recording and release
The song was recorded during Williams' final recording session on September 23, 1952 at Castle Studio in
Nashville. The 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 Williams' signature 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
In Western music, the adjectives major and minor may describe a chord, scale, or key. As such, composition, movement, section, or phrase may be referred to by its key, including whether that key is major or minor.
Intervals
Some intervals ...
, 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. In addition, the song fades out, the only Hank Williams song to do so. Williams is also backed by
Tommy Jackson (fiddle),
Don Helms
Donald "Don" Hugh Helms (February 28, 1927 – August 11, 2008) was a steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player of Hank Williams's Drifting Cowboys group. He was a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (1984).
Biography
Helms was ...
(steel guitar),
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nashville sound, the country music ...
(lead guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance (bass). The
single was released
posthumous
Posthumous may refer to:
* Posthumous award - an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death
* Posthumous publication – material published after the author's death
* ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1987
* ''Posthumous'' ...
ly in January 1953 on the
MGM Records label and it remained No. 1 on the
''Billboard'' Country chart for 14 weeks.
The flipside, "
Your Cheatin' Heart, remained at No. 1 on the country chart for 6 weeks.
A demo version of Williams singing "Kaw-Liga" with just his guitar, likely recorded in 1951, is also available. On the recording, Williams misplays a chord and can be heard muttering "shit" before starting the song again.
Other versions
*
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and succ ...
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.
*The hillbilly comedy duo
Homer and Jethro included a parody entitled "Poor Ol’ Koo-liger" on their 1963 album ''The Humorous Side of Country Music''. This album also included a parody of "Your Cheatin’ Heart", which they transformed into "Your Clobbered Heart".
*
Del Shannon
Charles Weedon Westover (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990), better known by his stage name Del Shannon, was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known for his 1961 number-one ''Billboard'' hit "Runaway". In 1999, he was induc ...
recorded it for his 1964 album ''Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams''.
*
Charley Pride
Charley Frank Pride (March 18, 1934 – December 12, 2020) was an American singer, guitarist, and professional baseball player. His greatest musical success came in the early to mid-1970s, when he was the best-selling performer for RCA Rec ...
took a live version of the song to No. 3 on the country singles chart in 1969.
*
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Ma ...
recorded it in 1969.
*
Roy Orbison recorded it for his tribute album ''
Hank Williams the Roy Orbison Way'' in 1970.
*
Doc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. W ...
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. Williams Jr. also performed the song 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
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's
Billie Jean. This may have been a reference to Williams' wife, who was named Billie Jean.
*
Roy Clark and
Joe Pass recorded a two-guitar instrumental version for their 1994 album ''Roy Clark and Joe Pass Play Hank Williams''.
*
John Soderling recorded it for his 2018 album ''Old Hank's Country Songs''.
*
M. H. Benders used it for a poem his 2022 book ''Gedichten om te Lezen in het Donker''.
Bibliography
*
References
External links
Hank Williams Official Website
{{authority control
1952 songs
1953 singles
Hank Williams songs
Songs written by Hank Williams
Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles of the year
Charley Pride songs
Hank Williams Jr. songs
The Residents songs
Songs written by Fred Rose (songwriter)
Songs about Native Americans
Songs about heartache