“Wedding Bells” had been first recorded by Knoxville radio veteran Bill Carlisle on King Records in 1947. According to country music historian Colin Escott, Claude Boone, who played guitar for Knoxville bluegrass star Carl Story, bought the song for twenty-five dollars from James Arthur Pritchett, a local musician and drunk who performed under the name “Arthur Q. Smith.” The song’s narrator describes his despair over the love of his life marrying another man. According to Boone, Hank called it “the prettiest song he’d ever heard.” Williams recorded it at Castle Studio in Nashville on March 20, 1949 with Fred Rose producing and was supported by Dale Potter (fiddle), Don Davis (steel guitar), Zeb Turner (electric guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Velma Williams (bass). “Wedding Bells” was significant because it was the first single following Hank’s biggest hit yet, “Lovesick Blues.”
The recording session for “Wedding Bells” took place after Williams’ first ever flight. Hank telegrammed producer Fred Rose before takeoff: “Flight 58 will arrive at 5:45. I hope.”
B-side “I’ve Just Told Mama Goodbye”
Released May 1, 1949
Recorded March 20, 1949
Studio Castle Studio, Nashville
Genre Country, blues
Length 2:54
Label MGM
Songwriter(s) Claude Boone
Hank Williams – Wedding Bells Lyrics
I have the invitation that you sent me
You wanted me to see you change your name
I couldn’t stand to see you wed another
But dear I hope you’re happy just the same
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
That should be ringing out for you and me
Down the aisle with someone else you’re walking
Those wedding bell will never ring for me
I planned a little cottage in the valley
I even bought a little band of gold
I thought some day I’d place it on your finger
But now the future looks so dark and cold
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
I hear the children laughing out with glee
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
Those wedding bells will never ring for me
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
And while the organ plays I love you truly
Please let me pretend that I am there
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Ever since the day you set me free
I knew someday that you would wed another
But wedding bells will never ring for me
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://whentcowboysings.com/hank-williams-wedding-bells/&media=https://whentcowboysings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/enl.jpg&description="Wedding Bells" had been first recorded by Knoxville radio veteran Bill Carlisle on King Records in 1947. According to country music historian Colin Escott, Claude Boone, who played guitar for Knoxville bluegrass star Carl Story, bought the song for twenty-five dollars from James Arthur Pritchett, a local musician and drunk who performed under the name "Arthur Q. Smith." The song's narrator describes his despair over the love of his life marrying another man. According to Boone, Hank called it "the prettiest song he'd ever heard." Williams recorded it at Castle Studio in Nashville on March 20, 1949 with Fred Rose producing and was supported by Dale Potter (fiddle), Don Davis (steel guitar), Zeb Turner (electric guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Velma Williams (bass). "Wedding Bells" was significant because it was the first single following Hank's biggest hit yet, "Lovesick Blues."The recording session for "Wedding Bells" took place after Williams' first ever flight. Hank telegrammed producer Fred Rose before takeoff: "Flight 58 will arrive at 5:45. I hope."B-side "I've Just Told Mama Goodbye"Released May 1, 1949Recorded March 20, 1949Studio Castle Studio, NashvilleGenre Country, bluesLength 2:54Label MGMSongwriter(s) Claude Boone){kind=link}