Hank Williams was called the 'Hillbilly Shakespeare' because of the striking imagery of his lyrics and for the extent to which he influenced how other musicians write songs. In this activity, students will close read Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” to evaluate the effects of diction, imagery, sensory detail, and personification on the emotional relevance of a text. Students will consider the song’s emotional power alongside its lyrical simplicity. To conclude, students will have the opportunity to complete a writing exercise that asks them to observe and reflect on their surroundings to articulate and express a story, inspired by Williams.

Introductory Activity: 

With the lyrics in front of you, listen to the entirety of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” paying particular attention to Williams’s diction, or word choice. Underline verbs (whine, crawl, hide, weep); circle adjectives (blue, lonesome, falling, purple).

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams (Listen)