A posthumous special citation to Hank Williams for his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life.

Den prestigefyldte Pulitzerpris forbindes almindeligvis med journalistiske og skønlitterære bøger. Men i år modtager countrysangskriveren og -musikeren Hank Williams posthumt en pris med ovenstående begrundelse. Specialprisen er et vidnesbyrd om, at sangteksterne i populærmusikken ikke kun er silly lovesongs, men også – i bedste fald – en særlig genre, der ophøjer hverdagssproget til poesi. Og i alle tilfælde er der tale om tekster, der sætter begavede ord på generationers kærligheds- og hverdagsliv. Ofte ord, som den enkelte ikke selv kan finde… Til lykke Hank.

PS: Thelonious Monk modtog en tilsvarende pris i 2006, John Coltrane i 2007 – og Bob Dylan i 2008.

I tried so hard my dear to show that you’re my every dream.
Yet you’re afraid each thing I do is just some evil scheme
A memory from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart
Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart

Another love before my time made your heart sad and blue
And so my heart is paying now for things I didn’t do
In anger unkind words are said that make the teardrops start
Why can’t I free your doubtful mind,and melt your cold cold heart
You’ll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry
You know you need and want my love yet you’re afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from life,to try it just ain’t smart
Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart

There was a time when I believed that you belonged to me
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
The more I learn to care for you,the more we drift apart
Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart