Hank Williams – Why Don’t You Love Me

“Why Don’t You Love Me” is a song by American singer and guitarist Hank Williams. The song reached number one on the U.S. Country & Western chart. It was released as a single in 1950 with the B-side, “A House Without Love”.

Like his previous hits “You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave)” and “I Just Don’t Like This Kind of Living”, “Why Don’t You Love Me” was likely inspired by Hank’s turbulent relationship with his wife Audrey Williams. However, the song is more lighthearted in nature, with the narrator admonishing himself (“I’m the same old trouble you’ve always been through”) and became Williams’ third No. 1 country hit. The tune was recorded in Nashville at Castle Studio with Fred Rose producing on January 9, 1950 and featured Jerry Rivers (fiddle), Don Helms (steel guitar), Bob McNett (lead guitar), Jack Shook (rhythm guitar), and Ernie Newton (bass). It is set in common time composed in a moderate tempo, with a main key of F major with a basic sequence of F–C7–B♭ as its chord progression.

B-side “A House Without Love”
Released May 1950
Recorded January 9, 1950
Studio Castle Studio, Nashville
Genre Country
Length 2:23
Label MGM
Songwriter(s) Hank Williams
Producer(s) Fred Rose

Hank Williams – Why Don’t You Love Me Lyrics

Well, Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
My hair’s still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To Do.

Ain’t had no lovin’ like a huggin’ and a kissin’
in a long, long while
We don’t get nearer or further or closer
than a country mile;

Why don’t you spark me like you used to do
And say sweet nothin’s like you used to coo
I’m the same old trouble that you’ve always been through
So, Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do.

Well, why don’t you be just like you used to be
How come you find so many faults with me
Somebody’s changed so let me give you a clue
Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do.

Ain’t had no lovin’ like a huggin’ and a kissin’
in a long, long while
We don’t get nearer or further
than a country mile;

Why don’t you say the things you used to say
What makes you treat me like a piece of clay
My hair’s still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do.