Hank Williams, Sr. 1923 - 1953

NEVER MESS WITH HANK

It happened in the Boondocks
in the Salty Dog Saloon.
The cowboys were all listenin' to
an old Hank Williams tune.
Can't say I know who started it-
but all the cowboys claim
the place was nice and peaceful-like
before the bikers came.

I guess I know the cause a' it.
The song was playin' loud,
and every note Hank Williams sang,
plumb charmed the cowboy crowd.
With the bikers it was different though.
They said they wanted Soul;
that they couldn't stand Hank Williams;
and they wanted Rock and Roll.

Well  one thing led to one thing more.
Next minute, fists were swingin',
and all around the bar room floor
broken chairs were flingin'....
broken bottles, broken stools
and bruised-up, broken bones;
and splattered blood on battered studs
amidst their scattered groans.

And when the fray was over,
there was spread out on the floor-
cold-conked, bruised and bleeding-
bikers by the score.
They picked themselves up, aches and all,
and headed out the door.
We never saw them bikers
in the Boondocks anymore.


This story I done told t' you
is posolutely true.
Of course it's got a moral
as most good stories do.
When cowboys are a' listenin' to
old songs you might deem rank,
just sit right down, respectful-like,
and never mess with Hank.

Bette Wolf Duncan
©2001 All rights reserved.

 

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