Kaw-Liga

Hank Williams was from Alabama, and would vacation on Lake Martin. The Lake Martin area was once the home of Kowaliga, a former unincorporated town and a historically African-American community that was active from roughly 1890 until the mid-1920s. When the song was written, it was originally Kowaliga, but Fred Rose changed the spelling to "Kaw Liga". In 1953, "Kowaliga Day" was proclaimed by Alexander City Mayor Joe Robinson. "Kaw-Liga" is one of just a handful of songs that Williams wrote with Fred Rose, who produced his records and published his songs through his company Acuff-Rose. Rose often "doctored" the songs Williams composed, making suggestions and revisions, with biographer Roger M. Williams (no known relation) noting that Rose's contribution to Williams' songs was probably craftsmanship, whereas Williams' was genius. Roy Acuff later recalled: ==Content==

The song tells the story of a wooden Indian, Kaw-Liga, who falls in love with another sculpture in the form of an Indian maid in an antique store, but never tells her how he feels: Meanwhile, the Indian maid waits for Kaw-Liga to signal his affection for her, but because of his stubbornness, Kaw-Liga's love continues to be unrequited. Hank Williams, the narrator/singer of the song, laments: The song ends with the Indian maid being purchased and taken away, leaving Kaw-Liga alone: ==Recording and release==

The song was recorded during Williams' final recording session on September 23, 1952, at Castle Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The flipside, "Your Cheatin' Heart, remained at number one on the country chart for six weeks. ==Other versions==

• Marty Robbins included it as the opening track of his self-titled 1958 LP. • Johnny and the Hurricanes released an instrumental version of the song in 1963. • The hillbilly comedy duo Homer and Jethro included a parody entitled "Poor Ol’ Koo-liger" on their 1963 album The Humorous Side of Country Music. This album also included a parody of "Your Cheatin’ Heart", which they transformed into "Your Clobbered Heart". • Del Shannon recorded it for his 1964 album Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams. • Charley Pride took a live version of the song to number three on the country singles chart in 1969. • Loretta Lynn recorded it in 1969. • Roy Orbison recorded it for his tribute album Hank Williams the Roy Orbison Way in 1970. • Doc Watson recorded a version for his 1974 album Two Days in November. • Hank Williams's son, Hank Williams Jr., recorded a cover, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard country singles chart in the summer of 1980. Williams Jr. also performed the song on a television special with Johnny Cash. • Avant-garde band the Residents recorded the song for their 1986 album Stars & Hank Forever: The American Composers Series, replacing its original backing music with the bassline of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. This may have been a reference to Williams' wife, who was named Billie Jean. • Roy Clark and Joe Pass recorded a two-guitar instrumental version for their 1994 album Roy Clark and Joe Pass Play Hank Williams. • M. H. Benders used it for a poem his 2022 book Gedichten om te Lezen in het Donker. == References ==