Your Cheating Heart by Arjen

Arjen - Your Cheating Heart

Arjen

Dec 09, 2024 04:06am

"Your Cheatin' Heart" is a song written and recorded by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">country music</a> singer-songwriter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hank Williams</a> in 1952. It is regarded as one of country's most important <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_(music)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">standards</a>. Williams was inspired to write the song while driving with his fiancée from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nashville, Tennessee</a>, to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreveport,_Louisiana" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shreveport, Louisiana</a>. After describing his first wife <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Williams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Audrey Sheppard</a> as a "cheatin' heart", in minutes he dictated the lyrics to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean_Jones" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billie Jean Jones</a>. Produced by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rose_(songwriter)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fred Rose</a>, Williams recorded the song at his last session at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Recording_Laboratory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Castle Studio</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nashville, Tennessee</a>, on September 23."Your Cheatin' Heart" was released in January 1953. Propelled by Hank Williams' recent death during a trip to a New Year's concert in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton,_Ohio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Canton, Ohio</a>, the song became an instant success. It topped <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billboard's</a> Country & Western chart for six weeks, with over a million units sold. The success of the song continued with covers by other artists. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_James" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joni James</a>' version reached number two on Billboard's Most Played in Jukeboxes the same year, while <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Charles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ray Charles</a>' 1962 version reached number 29 on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billboard Hot 100</a> and 13 on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK Singles Chart</a>. The song ranked 213 on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolling Stone</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500_Greatest_Songs_of_All_Time" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">500 Greatest Songs of All Time</a>, and was ranked number 5 on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Music_Television" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Country Music Television</a>'s 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. By 1952, Williams was enjoying a successful streak, releasing multiple hits, including "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honky_Tonk_Blues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Honky Tonk Blues</a>", "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_as_Much" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Half as Much</a>", "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settin%27_the_Woods_on_Fire" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Settin' the Woods on Fire</a>", "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambalaya_(On_the_Bayou)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jambalaya (On the Bayou)</a>" and "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Win_Again_(Hank_Williams_song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">You Win Again</a>".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHelander1998188-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[3]</a> While his career was soaring, his marriage to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Williams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Audrey Sheppard</a> became turbulent. Already a periodic alcoholic, he developed serious problems with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">morphine</a> and painkillers prescribed to ease his severe back pain caused by an unsuccessful operation to relieve <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spina_bifida" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spina bifida</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKoon200210-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[4]</a> The couple divorced on May 29.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWilliams198196-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[5]</a> Soon after, Williams met <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean_Horton" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billie Jean Jones</a> backstage at the Ryman Auditorium, a native of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreveport,_Louisiana" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shreveport, Louisiana</a>, who was, at the time, dating <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faron_Young" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Faron Young</a>. Williams started dating Jones, upon the end of her relationship with Young and soon began to plan their marriage.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKoon2002200,_201-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[6]</a> While driving from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nashville, Tennessee</a> to Shreveport to announce the wedding to her parents,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTETyler2008''[httpsbooksgooglecombooksid2dgJVseZAlsCpgPA176_Your_Cheatin&#39;_Heart]'',_p._176,_at_[[Google_Books]]-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[7]</a> Williams talked to her about his previous marriage and described Audrey Sheppard as a "cheatin' heart", <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTETichi1998212-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[8]</a> adding that one day she would "have to pay".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTETyler2008''[httpsbooksgooglecombooksid2dgJVseZAlsCpgPA176_Your_Cheatin&#39;_Heart]'',_p._176,_at_[[Google_Books]]-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[7]</a> Inspired by his line, he instructed Jones to take his notebook and write down the lyrics of the song that he quickly dictated.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTETichi1998212-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[8]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hank_and_Audrey_Williams_MGM_publicity_-_Cropped.jpeg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Hank_and_Audrey_Williams_MGM_publicity_-_Cropped.jpeg/220px-Hank_and_Audrey_Williams_MGM_publicity_-_Cropped.jpeg" height="285" width="220"></a>Hank and Audrey Williams, 1952 <ul><li>A version of the song by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_James" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joni James</a>, released in 1953, reached number 2 on Billboard's Most Played in Jukeboxes.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBillboard_Staff_21953''[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidLA0EAAAAMBAJpgPA30_Your_Cheatin&#39;_Heart]'',_p._30,_at_[[Google_Books]]-30" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[30]</a></li><li>In 1953, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Laine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Frankie Laine</a>'s version reached number 18 on the Most Played in Jukeboxes chart.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBillboard_Staff_21953''[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidLA0EAAAAMBAJpgPA30_Your_Cheatin&#39;_Heart]'',_p._30,_at_[[Google_Books]]-30" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[30]</a></li><li>In 1962, a version by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Charles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ray Charles</a> reached number 29 on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billboard Hot 100</a> and 23 on the R&B chart,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEAswell2009''[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidBSHTGsnI8skCpgPA15_Your_Cheatin&#39;_Heart]'',_p._15,_at_[[Google_Books]]-31" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[31]</a> while it also charted at number 13 on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK Singles Chart</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBillboard_staff_31963''[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidwsEAAAAMBAJpgPA20_Your_Cheatin&#39;_Heart]'',_p._20,_at_[[Google_Books]]-32" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[32]</a></li><li>In 1962, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Cline" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patsy Cline</a> released a version on her third and final studio album <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentimentally_Yours" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sentimentally Yours</a>. Cline's vocals were overdubbed over a different arrangement for the soundtrack to Cline's biographical movie <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Dreams_(1985_film)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sweet Dreams</a>.</li><li>In 1961, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Judy_Howard&action=edit&redlink=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Judy Howard</a> released a 45 RPM version by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%22Heavenly_Records%22&action=edit&redlink=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Heavenly Records"</a> label, with orchestra conducted by Larry</li></ul>Lucie. Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin'_Heart" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart</a>