“Hey, Good Lookin’“ is a 1951 song written and recorded by Hank Williams….which although covered by many singers, his version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001….and since its original 1951 recording, it has been covered by a variety of artists to includeTennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, Frankie Laine, Dean Martin, Del Shannon, Ernest Tubb, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffet, The Mavericks and George Strait….just to name a few.
The Hank Williams song was inspired by another song by the same title….which was written by Cole Porter in 1942…..while the lyrics for the Williams version begin as a “come on” using double entendres related to food preparation….“How’s about cookin’ somethin’ up with me?”…..while by the third and fourth verses….the singer is promising the object of his affection that they can become an exclusive couple…. “How’s about keepin’ steady company?” and “I’m gonna throw my date book over the fence”.
Williams was friendly with musician Jimmy Dickens…..who after having told Dickens that Dickens needed a hit record if he was going to become a star…so Williams said he’d write it….and penned “Hey Good Lookin'” in only 20 minutes….while on a plane with Dickens, Minnie Pearl and Pearl’s husband Henry Cannon…..all of Grand Ole Opry fame….and a week later Williams recorded it himself….while jokingly telling Dickens, “That song’s too good for you!”.
