How you live your life on Earth defines the home you’ll be in in the afterlife. In Hank Williams’ self-written song “A Home in Heaven,” the singer encapsulates the simplicity of life that one must attain to live a fulfilling life.
Released in December 1956, the hymn was the sixth track to Hank’s debut album with his wife, Audrey Williams, entitled Mr. & Mrs. Hank Williams (1966). Audrey wasn’t as inclined to sing as her husband, but she has been featured in some of his songs, including “Lost on the River” (1948) and “Dear Brother” (1949). Robert D. Norred, Hank’s personal band member from The Drifting Cowboys, recalled in Hank Williams: The Biography, “Audrey couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, and the more she practiced, the worse she got.” Although Hank was aware of this, he supported her indulgence in singing anyway. He convinced his producer, Horace Logan, to appear with her onstage, and said, “Logan, I’ve got to let her sing. I’ve got to live with the woman.”
Audrey had a short deal with Decca Records but was later dropped by the label. Luckily, Hank convinced producer Fred Rose to let her sing some duets of gospel songs. The couple’s persistence made “A Home in Heaven” one of Hank Williams’ enduring tracks.
Meaning of the Song
“A Home in Heaven” was supposed to be a duet by Hank Williams and his wife, Audrey. But due to Audrey’s failed attempt to carry a tune, producer Fred Rose rejected it until MGM Records released the song in 1956 with the B-side, “The Pale Horse and His Rider.”
The song simply addresses the question of what you are building your life upon. It opens by comparing one’s home on earth with the home that awaits in the afterworld. The emphasis on buildings is a metaphor for the spiritual practices involved in achieving a well-spent life. Instead of focusing on material achievements, it suggests that the relationship with Christ on a daily basis weighs more as a substantial legacy for eternity.
For You
With basic acoustic guitar progression, the song brings a mellow sweetness to every lyric. The song debunks the idea that accumulating wealth and luxurious possessions are the essence of life. “Are you building a home in heaven, to live in when this life is o’er; Will you move to that beautiful city and live with Christ ever more,” Hank concludes. This only highlights that the quality of life we live upon in our waking lives will define our spiritual journey in the afterlife.
Let Hank Williams sing his single “A Home in Heaven” to you as you reflect on life.
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