I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Encyclopedia
"I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" is a song written by Fred Rose
and American
country music
singer-songwriter Hank Williams, released by Williams in 1952. The last single to be released during Williams' lifetime, it reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart posthumously in January 1953. Co-writer Fred Rose died a year after the song's release. Meant to be a humorous song, as evidenced by its ironic
title and chorus, the song took on additional poignancy following Williams' mysterious death. In fact, the urban legend that the song was #1 at the time of his demise is not far from the truth, as he did in fact die in the early hours of January 1953.
The song has been covered by artists such as Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Asleep at the Wheel
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, Hank Williams Jr., Hank Williams III
, and The Little Willies
.
In 1999 the song was used as the theme for the BBC Radio 4
comedy Married
. In 2008 Hank Williams' version of the song has been used as the theme for the HBO animated Comedy "The Life & Times of Tim
". Singer-songwriter and author Steve Earle
released his first novel on May 12, 2011, which takes its title from the song and tells the story of a doctor haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams. Earle also released an album titled I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive on April 26, 2011, although the album does not contain a cover of the song. Earle often covers the song in live performances, however, and a studio recording of Earle covering the song is often played on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Outlaw Country station.
Fred Rose (musician)
Fred Rose was an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive.-Biography:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips, and finally vaudeville...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer-songwriter Hank Williams, released by Williams in 1952. The last single to be released during Williams' lifetime, it reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart posthumously in January 1953. Co-writer Fred Rose died a year after the song's release. Meant to be a humorous song, as evidenced by its ironic
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
title and chorus, the song took on additional poignancy following Williams' mysterious death. In fact, the urban legend that the song was #1 at the time of his demise is not far from the truth, as he did in fact die in the early hours of January 1953.
The song has been covered by artists such as Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Hank Williams Jr., Hank Williams III
Hank Williams III
Shelton Hank Williams, known as Hank 3 , is a neotraditional country and punk metal singer, drummer, bassist, and guitarist. In addition to his honky tonk recordings, Williams' style alternates among country, punk and metal...
, and The Little Willies
The Little Willies
The Little Willies is a band formed in 2003. It features Norah Jones on piano and vocals, Richard Julian on vocals, Jim Campilongo on guitar, Lee Alexander on bass, and Dan Rieser on drums....
.
In 1999 the song was used as the theme for the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
comedy Married
Married (radio series)
Married is a BBC radio comedy with science fiction themes, first aired on BBC Radio 4. The main character is Robin Lightfoot, a confirmed bachelor with a successful architectural practice, who wakes up one day in a parallel universe in which he is married with two children...
. In 2008 Hank Williams' version of the song has been used as the theme for the HBO animated Comedy "The Life & Times of Tim
The Life & Times of Tim
The Life & Times of Tim is an HBO comedy animated television series, which premiered on September 28, 2008. The series was created by Steve Dildarian, and is about a hapless man in his mid 20s named Tim who lives in New York City with his girlfriend Amy...
". Singer-songwriter and author Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
released his first novel on May 12, 2011, which takes its title from the song and tells the story of a doctor haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams. Earle also released an album titled I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive on April 26, 2011, although the album does not contain a cover of the song. Earle often covers the song in live performances, however, and a studio recording of Earle covering the song is often played on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Outlaw Country station.
Hank Williams version
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Billboard Country Singles | #1 |