Why Don't You Love Me
Encyclopedia
"Why Don't You Love Me" is a song by American singer and guitarist Hank Williams. The song reached number one on the U.S. Country & Western chart
. It was released as a single in 1950 with the B-side "A House Without Love". Ths song was featured over the closing credits of the film The Last Picture Show
.
, with a main key of F major
with a basic sequence of F–C♯–B♭ as its chord progression
.
and Jimi Hendrix
for their album Friends from the Beginning (1972). It was also covered by American country artist, Connie Smith
, in 1975 and was released as a single, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Country chart. The Red Hot Chili Peppers
covered the song on their self-titled debut album
. It was also covered by My Morning Jacket
on Early Recordings, Chapter 2: Learning. Van Morrison
and Linda Gail Lewis
covered the song on their 2000 album You Win Again
. It was also covered in 1977 by Moe Bandy
on his album Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
. It was released as a single in 1950 with the B-side "A House Without Love". Ths song was featured over the closing credits of the film The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show is a 1971 American drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, adapted from a semi-autobiographical 1966 novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry....
.
Composition
"Why Don't You Love Me" was written and composed by Williams. It is set in common time composed in a moderate tempoTempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
, with a main key of F major
F major
F major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
with a basic sequence of F–C♯–B♭ as its chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1950) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
Cover versions
The song was first covered by Little RichardLittle Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
for their album Friends from the Beginning (1972). It was also covered by American country artist, Connie Smith
Connie Smith
Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
, in 1975 and was released as a single, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Country chart. The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
covered the song on their self-titled debut album
Red Hot Chili Peppers (album)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers is the debut studio album by American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on August 10, 1984 on EMI America Records. The album was produced by Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill, and is the only album to feature guitarist Jack Sherman.-Background and recording:Red...
. It was also covered by My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
on Early Recordings, Chapter 2: Learning. Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
and Linda Gail Lewis
Linda Gail Lewis
Linda Gail Lewis is an American singer and pianist. She is the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis.She plays piano and has recorded with Stephen Ackles, Van Morrison, and with her brother. She also has recorded with her two daughtersMaryJean Ferguson, and Annie Marie Dolan in a group called The Lewis 3...
covered the song on their 2000 album You Win Again
You Win Again (album)
You Win Again is the twenty-eighth album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and Linda Gail Lewis, released in 2000...
. It was also covered in 1977 by Moe Bandy
Moe Bandy
Marion Franklin Bandy, Jr.–better known professionally as Moe Bandy– is a country music singer...
on his album Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry