I Saw the Light ( Hank Williams song ) - wikipedia I Saw the Light ( Hank Williams song ) `` I Saw the Light '' Single by Hank Williams B - side `` Six More Miles ( To the Graveyard ) '' Released September 1948 Format 10 '' single ( MGM 10271 ) Recorded April 21, 1947 Genre Country, gospel Length 2 : 45 Label MGM Songwriter ( s ) Hank Williams Producer ( s ) Fred Rose Hank Williams singles chronology `` I 'm a Long Gone Daddy '' ( 1948 ) `` I Saw the Light '' ( 1948 ) `` A Mansion on the Hill '' ( 1948 ) `` I 'm a Long Gone Daddy '' ( 1948 ) `` I Saw the Light '' ( 1948 ) `` A Mansion on the Hill '' ( 1948 ) `` I Saw the Light '' is a country gospel song written by Hank Williams. Williams was inspired to write the song while returning from a concert by a remark his mother made while they were arriving in Montgomery, Alabama. He recorded the song during his first session for MGM Records, and released in September 1948. The song is set to the tune of the traditional Scottish folk tune `` Bonnie Charlie '', also commonly known as `` Will ye no come back again ? ''. Williams ' version did not enjoy major success during its initial release, but eventually it became one of his most popular songs and the closing number for his live shows. It was soon covered by other acts, and has become a country gospel standard. In September 1946, Hank Williams auditioned for Nashville 's Grand Ole Opry but was rejected. After the failure of his audition, Williams and his wife Audrey tried to interest the recently formed music publishing firm Acuff - Rose Music. Williams and his wife approached Fred Rose, who signed him to a six song contract, and leveraged a deal with Sterling Records. In December 1946, Williams had his first recording session. The songs `` Never Again '' and `` Honky Tonkin ' '' became successful, and earned Williams the attention of MGM Records. His first MGM session took place on April 21, 1947. The first song he recorded was `` Move It on Over ''. The second was `` I Saw the Light ''. Contents 1 Composition 2 Recording and release 3 Legacy 4 Cover versions and other media 5 Footnotes 6 References Composition Williams was inspired to write the song in January 1947 while returning from a show in Fort Deposit, Alabama. His mother, Lilly, drove him and the band back to Montgomery that night. As she was approaching the city, she spotted the lights of Dannelly Field Airport. Williams, who slept inebriated in the backseat of the car, was roused by his mother, who told him `` I just saw the light '', announcing him that they were close to Montgomery. He wrote the first draft on January 26, 1947. The lyrics and the melody by Williams closely resembled Albert E. Brumley 's `` He Set Me Free '', published in 1939 and released in March 1941 by The Chuck Wagon Gang. Biblical citations were used, including the Gospels of Matthew and John, as well as excerpts from the First Epistle to the Thessalonians and Book of Revelation. As Williams ' biographer Colin Escott astutely observes, while the melody and even some of the lyrics bear a passing resemblance to the earlier Brumley tune, `` ' I Saw the Light ' was n't just ' He Set Me Free ' with new lyrics, though. It was the prayer of the backslider, who lives in hope of redemption. '' Recording and release Williams recorded the song during his first session with MGM Records on April 21, 1947. The band was composed by part of Red Foley 's backing, including Zeke and Zeb Turner ( guitar ), Brownie Raynolds ( bass ), Tommy Jackson ( fiddle ) and Smokey Lohman ( steel guitar ). Williams had also recorded a version of the song on a later session with his wife, which he sent to Rose on August 19. On the accompanying letter, he discouraged the producer to issue the recording. Audrey, like many people who sing badly, seemed to have no sense of how bad she was as a vocalist, and her duets with Hank were like an extension of their married life as she fought him for dominance on every note. While the release of Williams ' recording was held, the first issued version was by Clyde Grubb, who recorded it on August 13, 1947. Grubb 's version was released by RCA Records ( RCA 20 - 2485 ) in October 1947 with `` When God '' on the flipside, backed by his Tennessee Valley Boys. Williams ' version was released in September 1948, while it was later copyrighted on November 16. It was backed with `` Six More Miles ( To the Graveyard ) '' and issued on MGM Records ( MGM 10271 ). Boys ' Life favored the record, stating : `` It 's a typical Hank Williams lament, which you western and hillbilly fans will eat up ''. Hank Williams first appeared on the Kate Smith Evening Hour on March 26, 1952, and joined in with the rest of the cast singing `` I Saw The Light. '' Legacy `` I Saw the Light '' was not a commercial success upon its release but has since become his most recognized hymn and one of his most popular songs. The song became a standard for both the country music and gospel music genres, and has been covered by several artists of the two genres and beyond. Allmusic called it one of Williams ' `` finest songs concerning his strong religious conviction ''. It was ranked first in Country Music Television 's 20 Greatest Songs of Faith in 2005. The 2015 Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston was named after the song. Bob Dylan has also referred to it as a source for religious significance. Cover versions and other Media Roy Acuff covered the song in a recording session on November 11, 1947. The single was released by Columbia Records ( CCO - 4895 ) in February 1948, with `` Thank God '' on the flipside. During Williams ' funeral in 1953, Acuff led the singing of the song, while he was joined on the chorus by artists including Red Foley, Webb Pierce, Carl Smith and Bill Monroe among others present. Bill Monroe recorded the song in 1958, which he released as the title - track of his first gospel album the same year. Pianist Floyd Cramer recorded an instrumental version in 1962. Hank 's hero Ernest Tubb recorded the song in 1963 for Decca. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded the song in collaboration with Roy Acuff 1971 for the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The collaboration reached number 56 on Billboard 's Top Country Singles. Bonnie Owens cut the song for Capitol in 1970. The song appears on Emmylou Harris ' debut album. Merle Haggard included it on his 1971 album The Land of Many Churches. In 1972, Earl Scruggs included it on his album I Saw the Light with Some Help from My Friends. Pat Boone recorded the song for MGM in 1972. In 1973, Tompall Glaser included a cover in his release Charlie. Chicago - based country band Mason Proffit released a cover version in 1973. Willie Nelson and Leon Russell released the song as a duet in 1977. Boxcar Willie released the song in 1980. Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the song for the Columbo - episode `` Swan Song '' in 1974. The The recorded the song for their 1994 tribute album Hanky Panky. A music video was made for the song shot on location near the top of the Chrysler Building. Crystal Gayle included the song in her 1995 album Someday. American noise rock band Killdozer released the song as the flipside of their 1996 single `` Go Big Red. '' Aaron Neville covered the song on his 2003 album Believe. David Crowder covered the song for his 2005 album A Collision, including an additional verse by Johnny Cash and a self - written ' eschatological represse '. The song became a live standard for many years, being included in Crowder 's 2008 live concert film ' Remedy Club Tour '. Derek Ryan, the Irish country singer covered it in his 2010 album A Mother 's Son. Jamey Johnson performed the song at Farm Aid 25 on October 2, 2010. In the drama Orange Is the New Black 's episode `` Ca n't Fix Crazy '' the song is covered by part of the prisoners during their annual Christmas pageant. In the television show Columbo Season 3 Episode `` Swan Song '' the song is covered by Johnny Cash 's character, Tommy Brown. The song is part of the standard song set of the Pride of the South Marching Band at the University of Mississippi, and has become one of its most popular songs. Footnotes Jump up ^ Williams, Roger M 1981, p. 59 - 60. Jump up ^ Young, William H. ; Young, Nancy K. 2010, p. 234. ^ Jump up to : Escott, Colin 1994, p. 69. Jump up ^ Wolfe, Charles 2002, p. 245. Jump up ^ Kindred, Douglas 2014, p. 65, 66. Jump up ^ Collins, Ace 1999, p. 127. ^ Jump up to : Escott, Colin, 2004 & 73. Jump up ^ Escott, Colin 1994, p. 67. Jump up ^ Koon, George William 1983, p. 36. Jump up ^ Billboard staff 1947, p. 130. Jump up ^ Escott, Colin 1994, p. 313. ^ Jump up to : Koon, George William 1983, p. 34. Jump up ^ Waring, Fred 1948, p. 25. Jump up ^ Collins, Ace 1999, p. 126. Jump up ^ Ward, Thomas 2015. Jump up ^ CMT 2005. Jump up ^ Michaels, Sean & 2014. Jump up ^ Agenant, William 1996, p. 16. Jump up ^ Rosenberg, Neil ; Wolfe, Charles 2007, p. 118. Jump up ^ McNeil, W.K. 2013, p. 6. Jump up ^ Wolfe, Charles ; Akerson, James 2002, p. 175. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas ; Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra Chris 2003, p. 309. Jump up ^ Dicaire, David 2007, p. 136. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas ; Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra Chris 2003, p. 286. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel 2001, p. 551. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas ; Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra Chris 2003, p. 275. Jump up ^ Karras, Steve 2014. References Agenant, William ( 1996 ). Columbia 78 Rpm Record Listing, 20001 Thru 21571, Plus OKeh Records 18001 Thru 18059. Joycee Record Club. Billboard staff ( 1947 ). `` Advanced Record Sales ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 59 ( 42 ). ISSN 0006 - 2510. CMT ( 2005 ). `` 20 Greatest Songs of Faith ''. 60 minutes in. Country Music Television. Missing or empty series = ( help ) Collins, Ace ( 1999 ). Turn Your Radio On : The Stories Behind Gospel Music 's All - Time Greatest Songs. Zondervan. ISBN 978 - 0 - 310 - 86449 - 3. Dicaire, David ( 2007 ). The First Generation of Country Music Stars : Biographies of 50 Artists Born Before 1940. McFarland. ISBN 978 - 0 - 786 - 43021 - 5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas ; Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra Chris ( 2003 ). All Music Guide to Country : The Definitive Guide to Country Music. ISBN 9780879307608. Escott, Colin ( 1994 ). Hank Williams : The Biography. Hachette Digital, Inc. p. 307. ISBN 0 - 316 - 24986 - 6. Karras, Steve ( 2014 ). `` Orange is the New Black 's Annie Golden ''. Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Retrieved April 27, 2015. Kindred, Douglas ( 2014 ). Read Matthew to Live Your Life, Read John to Save Your Soul. WestBow Press. ISBN 978 - 1 - 490 - 83587 - 7. Koon, George William ( 1983 ). Hank Williams, so lonesome. University of Mississippi press. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57806 - 283 - 6. McNeil, W.K. ( 2013 ). Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music. Routledge. ISBN 978 - 1 - 135 - 37700 - 7. Michaels, Sean ( 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston set to play country icon Hank Williams in new biopic ''. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 16 June 2014. Rosenberg, Neil ; Wolfe, Charles ( 2007 ). The Music of Bill Monroe. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 252 - 03121 - 2. Ward, Thomas ( 2015 ). `` I Saw the Light ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2015. Waring, Fred ( 1948 ). `` Off the Record ''. Boys ' Life. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. 39 ( 2 ). ISSN 0006 - 8608. Whitburn, Joel ( 2001 ). Joel Whitburn 's top pop albums, 1955 - 2001. Record Research. ISBN 978 - 0 - 898 - 20147 - 5. Williams, Roger M ( 1981 ). Sing a sad song : the life of Hank Williams. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 252 - 00861 - 0. Wolfe, Charles ( 2002 ). Classic Country : Legends of Country Music. Routledge. ISBN 978 - 1 - 135 - 95734 - 6. Wolfe, Charles ; Akerson, James ( 2002 ). Country Music Annual 2002. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978 - 0 - 813 - 12698 - 2. Young, William H. ; Young, Nancy K. ( 2010 ). World War II and the Postwar Years in America : A Historical and Cultural Encyclopedia. ABC - CLIO. ISBN 978 - 0 - 313 - 35652 - 0. Hank Williams Discography Songs Albums Hank Williams Sings Hank Williams on Stage Three Hanks : Men with Broken Hearts The Complete Hank Williams Memorial Album Songs `` Move It On Over '' `` Honky Tonkin ' '' `` I Saw the Light '' `` Lovesick Blues '' `` Mind Your Own Business '' `` Lost Highway '' `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' `` Long Gone Lonesome Blues '' `` Why Do n't You Love Me '' `` Cold, Cold Heart '' `` Hey, Good Lookin ' '' `` Honky Tonk Blues '' `` Half as Much '' `` Jambalaya ( On the Bayou ) '' `` You Win Again '' `` I 'll Never Get Out of This World Alive '' `` Kaw - Liga '' `` Your Cheatin ' Heart '' `` Take These Chains from My Heart '' `` The Blues Come Around '' `` Six More Miles ( To the Graveyard ) '' `` I 'm Satisfied with You '' `` The Pale Horse and His Rider '' Family Hank Williams Jr. Jett Williams Hank Williams III Holly Williams Related articles Death of Hank Williams List of tributes to Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys Sterling Records MGM Records Grand Ole Opry The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs, 1950 Rufus Payne Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Bob Carpenter Jimmie Fadden Jeff Hanna John McEuen Studio albums The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Ricochet Rare Junk Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy All the Good Times Stars & Stripes Forever Symphonion Dream The Dirt Band An American Dream Make a Little Magic Jealousy Let 's Go Plain Dirt Fashion Partners, Brothers and Friends Hold On Workin ' Band The Rest of the Dream Not Fade Away Acoustic The Christmas Album Bang, Bang, Bang Welcome to Woody Creek Speed of Life Collaboration albums Will the Circle Be Unbroken Will the Circle Be Unbroken : Volume Two Will the Circle Be Unbroken : Volume III Live albums Alive Live Two Five Compilation albums Dirt, Silver and Gold Twenty Years of Dirt More Great Dirt Notable singles `` Mr. Bojangles '' `` House at Pooh Corner '' `` I Saw the Light '' `` Jambalaya ( On the Bayou ) '' `` The Battle of New Orleans '' `` All I Have to Do Is Dream '' `` An American Dream '' `` Dance Little Jean '' `` Long Hard Road ( The Sharecropper 's Dream ) '' `` I Love Only You '' `` High Horse '' `` Modern Day Romance '' `` Home Again in My Heart '' `` Partners, Brothers and Friends '' `` Fire in the Sky '' `` Baby 's Got a Hold on Me '' `` Fishin ' in the Dark '' `` Oh What a Love '' `` Workin ' Man ( Nowhere to Go ) '' `` I 've Been Lookin ' '' `` Down That Road Tonight '' `` Turn of the Century '' `` And So It Goes '' ( with John Denver ) `` When It 's Gone '' `` I Fought the Law '' Related articles Discography Jimmy Ibbotson Bernie Leadon Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Saw_the_Light_(Hank_Williams_song)&oldid=847015848 '' Categories : Gospel songs Hank Williams songs Songs written by Hank Williams Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs Roy Acuff songs The The songs 1948 songs 1971 singles Danny Davis ( country musician ) songs Okeh Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Pages with citations lacking titles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Edit links This page was last edited on 22 June 2018, at 09 : 51 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote the gospel song i saw the light
Answer: Hank Williams