Obey Your Woman Or “Move It On Over” Warns Hank Williams

 By Arden Lambert

May 3, 2018
Last Edited November 26, 2019 1:37 pm


How often do you hear a story song that does not really feature a chorus? In 1974, Hank Williams, Sr. wrote and recorded one of his most popular songs, “Move It On Over“. The song lives and dies on the call-and-response in every verse, where Williams’ accent contrasts nicely with the far more refined accords of his backing band. Additionally, it was Williams’ first major hit, reaching the fourth spot on the Billboard Singles chart.

It is considered one of the earliest examples of rock and roll music.

Obey Your Woman Or "Move It On Over" Warns Hank Williams 1

Some Facts About the Song

Hank Williams was the Superman of country music and a first-rate songwriter. His music was equally significant for rock and roll, and country. In fact, “Move it On Over”, is clearly one of those songs that were rock and roll before anybody had created that phrase. However, some may have heard this song from George Thorogood on country radios. Until it was known that Hank Williams really started the song.

“Move It on Over” was Williams’ first Billboard hit. Moreover, it got him a write up in The Alabama Journal and produced his first serious money. The best part, though, is the song getting him a spot on the desirable Louisiana Hayride, the drill ground for the Grand Ole Opry.

Move (What) Over (What)?

“Move It on Over” is about a husband who comes home late. Knowing his wife changed the locks on the front door, he settles in the doghouse to sleep. As the song progresses, Williams admits to the sins that got him in this place. Although, even as he asserts that she is going to take him back, you can tell that is just false boldness. At the end of the song, you will realize that the dogs might want to look for a new place to live.

In many compliments, the song characterized Williams’ weird ability to express the facets of everyday life in an amusing way that listeners could relate to. As fiddler Jerry Rivers later recollected, Hank’s novelty songs were not a novelty at all. They were serious, not silly. A reason why they are more recognized and sold. better selling. Such is “Move It on Over”. It hits right home because half of the people he was singing to were in the doghouse with their old women.

Featuring an unstoppable rhythm section and hot guitar leads leaping from the mix, it is a neat mixture of total rawness and pure skill.

All of these threaten to outshine the clever lyric about a man who is literally in the doghouse.

Want more of Hank Williams, Sr.? Enjoy more country songs and stories on our website for complete entertainment.


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Hank Williams Sr., Move It on Over


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