Long Gone Lonesome Blues

Hank Williams' song "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" is a poignant exploration of heartache and loneliness. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who is deeply affected by the departure of his unfaithful lover. The river, a recurring motif in the song, symbolizes both the flow of life and the depth of his sorrow. When he goes to the river to watch the fish swim by, he is overwhelmed by his loneliness to the point of contemplating suicide. However, the dry riverbed he encounters serves as a metaphor for his empty and desolate emotional state.

The narrative continues with the protagonist lamenting his lost love, who left him for his money and left him feeling blue. The phrase "leanin' post" is a metaphor for the support and stability he sought in his relationship, which has now vanished. This sense of abandonment and betrayal is a central theme in the song, highlighting the emotional turmoil that comes with unfaithfulness and the loss of trust.

In the latter part of the song, the protagonist's despair deepens as he resolves to find a river "cold as ice" to end his suffering. The imagery of going down into the river three times but only coming up twice is a stark representation of his suicidal thoughts. The days of the week mentioned in the final verse emphasize the passage of time and the lingering pain of being left behind. The song captures the essence of the "gone but not forgotten blues," a feeling of enduring sorrow and longing for a lost love that continues to haunt the protagonist.