Well, you’re looking at a guy that’s gotting kinda mad
I had lot’s of luck but it’s all been bad
No matter how I struggle and strive
I’ll never get out of this world alive
The fishing pole’s broke
The creek is full of sand
My woman ran away with another man
No matter how I struggle and strive
I’ll never get out of this world alive
A distant uncle passed away
He left me quite a batch
Yes, and I was living high until that fatal day
A lawyer proved I wasn’t born
I was only hatched
Everything’s again me and it’s got me down
If I jumped in the river I would probably drown
No matter how I struggle and strive
I’ll never get out of this world alive
—- Instrumental Interlude —-
These shabby shoes I’m wearing, Lord
Their full of holes and nails
Yes, and brother if I stepped on a worn out dime
I bet a nickel, I could tell ya if it was heads or tails
If it was raining gold, I wouldn’t stand a chance
I wouldn’t have a pocket in my patched up pants
No matter how I struggle and strive
I’ll never get out of this world alive
A distant uncle passed away
He left me quite a batch
And yes, I was living high until that fatal day
A lawyer proved I wasn’t born
I was only hatched
But I ain’t gonna worry, wrinkles in my brow
Cause nothing’s ever gonna be alright nohow
No matter how I struggle and strive
I’ll never get out of this world alive
I’ll never get out of this world alive
Life’s a Bitch, and then you die, siger et kynisk livsvisdomsord. Og Hank Williams havde bestemt ikke det nemmeste liv på jorden. Til gengæld havde han evnen til at skrive sange, der ikke vil gå i glemmebogen. Den sørgmuntre I Never Get Out Of This World Alive om manden, som har alle odds imod sig blev den sidste singleplade, som Hank indspillede og fik udsendt i 1952. Ved årsskiftet røg den op på førstepladsen på den amerikanske countryhitliste.
Sangen, som også havde Fred Rose som komponist, fik en særlig betydning i lyset af Hank Williams mystiske og mytologiserede dødsfald i en Cadillac på vej til en koncert. Dødsfaldet skyldtes – i følge den officielle dødsattest – et hjertestop, som muligvis var fremkaldt af en blanding af morfin, vitaminer og øl. Hank blev 29 og hans bortgang faldt nogenlunde sammen med sangens hitlisteindtog. Skæbnens ironi, kunne man kalde det.