“Family Tradition:” Hank Williams Jr. Sings of The Rules He Breaks and Keeps

Family traditions are common in every culture. Wherever we go, it’s important to practice it because it signifies respect to your family. But what if you stray away from the traditions as Hank Williams Jr. did? What do you think will happen?

Hank Willams Jr.

Hank Williams Jr. is no stranger to people criticizing him for not following his father’s style of music. Hank Willams Sr. is a legendary country singer known for his honky-tonk blues style. He is admired by many singers, of course including his son. Williams Jr. expressed his thoughts about these family traditions that are needed to be followed by the younger generations.

His “Family Tradition”

His song “Family Tradition” was penned by him in 1987 for his same-titled album. Upon releasing the song as a single, it entered the Billboard country chart and placed at number four. Furthermore, it secured the number sixteen spot on the Canadian country chart.

About the Song

Williams Jr. first addressed traditions practiced by country singers in his song. It is important for the family members to follow the footsteps of their forefathers. However, since he tried to make his own name in country music, some people disowned him.

Country music singers, have always been a real close family,
But lately some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others and me.

As you listen further, Williams Jr. seems to say that he still keeps some family traditions that he knows. But, it’s not the kind of good family traditions. Instead, in his song, he said that the family practices he keeps were the drinking and smoking.

They get on me and want to know Hank why do you drink?
Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Over and over everybody makes my predictions.
So if I get stoned, I’m just carrying on an old family tradition.

We most certainly think that it’s best that Willams Jr. really did follow what his heart desires and performed songs that he is comfortable with. It’s not easy if we only follow all of our family traditions. Sometimes it leads to unhappiness.

Have you tried going against your family’s traditions?