Every couple of years I seem to stumble upon another Hank Williams' gem that was totally unknown to me. The power of his songs never ceases to amaze me. I came across this little beauty a couple of weeks ago when I finally bought the album by Tom, Brad & Alice. Is the song fairly wellknown, but simply escaped my attention or is it an obscurity? Whatever, it is lovely in its simplicity:

ALONE AND FORSAKEN
(Hank Williams)

We met in the springtime when blossoms unfold
The pastures were green and the meadows were gold
Our love was in flower as summer drew on
Her love, like the leaves, now has withered and gone

Refrain:
Alone and forsaken by fate and by man
Oh Lord, if you hear me, please hold to my hand
Oh please understand

The roses have faded, there's frost at my door
The birds in the morning don't sing anymore
The grass in the valley is starting to die
And out in the darkness the whipoorwill cry

Refrain

Oh where has she gone to, oh where can she be
She may have forsaken some other like me
She promised to honour and love me always
Each vow was a plaything that she threw away

Refrain

The darkness is falling, the sky has turned grey
A hound in the distance is starting to bay
I wonder, I wonder, what she's thinking of
Forsaken, fogotten, without any love

Alone and forsaken by fate and by man
Oh Lord, if you hear me, please hold to my hand
Oh Lord, if you hear me, please hold to my hand
Oh please understand

Words and music by Hank Williams (Righsong Music Inc – BMI/Acuff-Rose Music Inc – BMI)

Source: Tom, Brad & Alice [Tom Sauber, Brad Leftwich, Alice Gerrard] 'Holly Ding' Copper Creek CCCD-0179.

PS.