My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It - wikipedia My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It Not to be confused with There 's a Hole in My Bucket. `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' Single by Hank Williams B - side `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' Released 1949 Genre Honky - tonk, blues Length 2 : 30 Label MGM Songwriter ( s ) Clarence Williams Hank Williams singles chronology `` Mind Your Own Business '' ( 1949 ) `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' ( 1949 ) `` I Just Do n't Like This Kind of Living '' ( 1949 ) `` Mind Your Own Business '' ( 1949 ) `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' ( 1949 ) `` I Just Do n't Like This Kind of Living '' ( 1949 ) `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' is a song widely attributed to Clarence Williams, who obtained a copyright in 1933. The song became popular performed by Hank Williams for MGM and reached # 4 on the country chart in 1949. Contents 1 Origins 2 Tom Gates version 3 Washboard Sam version 4 Hank Williams version 5 Other versions 6 References Origins A rendering ( 1927 ) by Tom Gates and his Orchestra ( on Gennett 6184 ) as `` The Bucket 's Got A Hole In It '' gives writing credit to musicians Lee Blevins and Victor Sells. This version predates the C. Williams copyright. The original melody evolved from the second theme of `` Long Lost Blues '' published in 1914 by J. Paul Wyer and H. Alf Kelley. The `` Long Lost Blues '' theme was a variation of `` Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '', a motif that appears in several versions of `` Keep A-Knockin ''. This tune later became the basis for several versions of the song, `` You Ca n't Come In '' recorded by multiple artists. However, `` Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' has also been attributed to Buddy Bolden, which would date it before 1906. As one critic noted, Hank Williams `` could have been given this ditty to record, ( but ) he may have been familiar with this ditty from previous recordings or had heard it while growing up in Alabama. '' Tom Gates version Tom Gates and his Orchestra performed the earliest known recording of this song on July 25, 1927 ( Gennett 6198 - A Champion 15307 ) in St. Paul, Minnesota as `` The Bucket 's Got a Hole in It. '' Band members included the composers, Lee N. Blevins on trombone and Victor Sells on trumpet. Also playing were Earl Clark, Frank Cloustier ( Piano, Director ), Bob Gates, Tom Gates, Tracy `` Pug '' Mama, Nevin Simmons ( Alto Sax / Vocals ), and Harold Stoddard. Even in this early recording, the melody had already been used by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in their `` She 's Crying For Me Blues '' ( ' 25 - Victor ), also by Louis Dumaine 's Jazzola Eight in ' 27 as To - Wa - Bac - A-Wa - Yale Blues. Washboard Sam version Washboard Sam, aka Robert Brown, released a version of this song on Bluebird B - 7906 known as `` Bucket 's Got A Hole In It. '' This recording was made in 1937 as one of `` several historic blues recording sessions ( that ) took place on the top floor of the Leland Hotel located in downtown Aurora, Illinois. Lester Melrose, a freelance A&R man, and record producer, put together those recording sessions for the Bluebird label. Melrose brought together a small group of artists from St. Louis, and some of Chicago 's finest blues artists of the time, and over the course of the next 20 months, recorded over 300 tracks. '' Featured in this series of recordings are the performers Tampa Red, Washboard Sam, Big Bill Broonzy, Walter Davis, John Lee `` Sonny Boy '' Williamson, Big Joe Williams, Henry Townsend, Robert Lee McCoy, Speckled Red, Merlene Johnson, Addie `` Sweet Peas '' Spivey, Bill `` Jazz '' Gillum and One Arm Slim, amongst many others. Hank Williams playing guitar in Montgomery, Alabama in 1938 Hank Williams version Williams likely first heard `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' from Rufus Payne, nicknamed `` Tee Tot, '' a black street singer who taught a young Hank to play blues guitar. In the essay to the 1990 Polygram box set Hank Williams : The Original Singles Collection, Colin Escott quotes Williams in an interview with Ralph Gleason in 1952 : `` I was shinin ' shoes and sellin ' newspapers and following this old Nigrah around to get him to teach me how to play the git - tar. I 'd give him 15 cents or whatever I could get ahold of for a lesson. '' Understandably, producer Fred Rose was wary of the song 's commercial potential ; as country music historian Escott notes, `` Fred Rose 's opposition to the song had a lot to do with the fact that it mentioned beer, and probably had something to do with the fact that Acuff - Rose did n't publish it. '' In addition, Williams originally had a couplet mentioning a Ford automobile ( `` Me an ' my baby, we got a Ford / Now we change the gears from the running board '' ) and Rose demanded that, if Williams did record it, the reference be dropped because if Hank endorsed Ford, `` then deejays sponsored by GM, Chrysler, and Studebaker would n't spin his record. '' Williams recorded the song on August 30, 1949 at Herzog Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio ( the same session that produced the B - side `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' ). He is backed by members of the Pleasant Valley Boys - Zeke Turner ( lead guitar ), Jerry Byrd ( steel guitar ), and Louis Innis ( rhythm guitar ) - as well as Tommy Jackson ( fiddle ) and Ernie Newton ( bass ). `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' ( Hank Williams version ) Hank Williams ' 1949 recording of the song Problems playing this file ? See media help. The song is significant for featuring the only guitar solo Williams ever recorded : `` Hank came into the studio with the guitar solo already worked out. He played it twice as he demo 'd it for the band, then reprised it on the record, and while it did n't break new ground, it was loose and swinging and wonderfully bluesy. The entire record had a compelling swing that showed just how deeply Hank was immersed in black music. '' The blues influence is evident in other Williams songs, such as `` Move It on Over, '' `` Mind Your Own Business, '' and `` Honky Tonk Blues, '' but `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' remains the song that displays the influence most prominently. Other versions Murv Shiner recorded the song for Decca. Dave Denny recorded `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' for RCA. T. Texas Tyler covered the song for 4 - Star Records in 1949. The song reached # 4 on the country chart. Fat Man Robinson recorded an R&B version for Decca that contained the lines to a Ford that Williams had dropped from his version. Louis Armstrong recorded the song in 1950. Sonny Burgess released a version as a single in 1957. Ken Colyer 's Jazzmen released a version as a single in 1956 in the United Kingdom. Ricky Nelson released a version of the song in 1958. The song reached # 6 on the R&B chart, # 10 on the country chart, and # 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Nelson substituted `` I ca n't buy no beer '' with `` It do n't work no more. '' `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' Single by Ricky Nelson B - side `` Believe What You Say '' Released March 10, 1958 Genre Rock and roll Length 2 : 00 Label Imperial Records 5503 Songwriter ( s ) Clarence Williams Ricky Nelson singles chronology `` Stood Up '' ( 1957 ) `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' ( 1958 ) `` Poor Little Fool '' ( 1958 ) `` Stood Up '' ( 1957 ) `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' ( 1958 ) `` Poor Little Fool '' ( 1958 ) The Ramsey Lewis Trio released a version on their 1962 album, Country Meets the Blues. Bob Dylan and The Band recorded the song in 1967, released in 2014 on The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 : The Basement Tapes Complete. Chris Spedding released a version as a single in 1975 in the United Kingdom. Andy Fairweather Low recorded his own version and it appeared on his 1975 album, La Booga Rooga. Jim Goad recorded a version on his 1997 album as Big Red Goad, Truck Drivin ' Psycho. Page and Plant released a version on the 2001 compilation, Good Rockin ' Tonight - The Legacy Of Sun Records. Van Morrison released a version on his 2006 album, Pay the Devil. Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis released a version on their 2008 album, Two Men with the Blues. Tim Timebomb released a version on 2012 References Jump up ^ `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It : Hank Williams : Chart positions ''. Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Joop 's Musical Flowers : You Ca n't Come In... '' 2014 - 10 - 12. Retrieved 2014 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ Bratkovich, Colin ( 2014 ). Just Remember This. Xlibris Xorporation. p. 690. ISBN 9781483645179. Jump up ^ `` Tom Gates and his Orchestra ''. 2014 - 10 - 12. Retrieved 2014 - 10 - 12. ^ Jump up to : `` The Leland Bluebird Sessions ''. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 2014 - 11 - 12. Jump up ^ David Brackett ( 2000 - 10 - 25 ). `` Interpreting Popular Music : With a new preface by the author ''. Books.google.com. p. 98. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. ^ Jump up to : Escott, Colin & 2004 126. Jump up ^ Escott, Colin & 2004 332. Jump up ^ `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It : T. Texas Tyler : Chart positions ''. Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Sonny Burgess - My Bucket 's Got A Hole In It / Sweet Misery - Sun - USA - 285 ''. 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Ken Colyer 's Jazzmen - Wabash Blues / My Bucket 's Got A Hole In It - Tempo - UK - A 126 ''. 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It : Ricky Nelson : Chart positions ''. Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Country Meets the Blues - Ramsey Lewis Songs, Reviews, Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Bob Dylan - The Basement Tapes Complete : The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - Amazon.com Music ''. Amazon.com. Missing or empty url = ( help ) ; access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Chris Spedding - My Bucket 's Got A Hole In It / I Ca n't Boogie - Island - UK - WIP 6225 ''. 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ William Ruhlmann. `` La Booga Rooga - Andy Fairweather Low Songs, Reviews, Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine ( 2001 - 10 - 16 ). `` Good Rockin ' Tonight : The Legacy of Sun Records - Various Artists Songs, Reviews, Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ Thom Jurek ( 2006 - 03 - 07 ). `` Pay the Devil - Van Morrison Songs, Reviews, Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. `` Two Men with the Blues - Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis Songs, Reviews, Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 27. 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 Ricky Nelson James Burton Richie Frost Gene Garf James Kirkland Studio albums Ricky Rocks ( 1957 ) Ricky Nelson ( 1958 ) Ricky Sings Again ( 1959 ) Rick Is 21 ( 1961 ) Rick Sings Nelson ( 1970 ) Rudy the Fifth ( 1971 ) Garden Party ( 1972 ) Windfall ( 1974 ) All My Best ( 1985 ) Live album In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969 ( 1970 ) Singles `` I 'm Walkin ' '' `` A Teenager 's Romance '' `` You 're My One and Only Love '' `` Have I Told You Lately That I Love You ? '' `` Be-Bop Baby '' `` Stood Up '' `` Waitin ' in School '' `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' `` Believe What You Say '' `` Poor Little Fool '' `` Lonesome Town '' `` I Got a Feeling '' `` It 's Late '' `` Never Be Anyone Else But You '' `` Just a Little Too Much '' `` Sweeter Than You '' `` I Wanna Be Loved '' `` Young Emotions '' `` Travelin ' Man '' `` Hello Mary Lou '' `` A Wonder Like You '' `` Everlovin ' '' `` Young World '' `` Summertime '' `` Teen Age Idol '' `` It 's Up to You '' `` Fools Rush In '' `` For You '' `` The Very Thought of You '' `` There 's Nothing I Can Say '' `` She Belongs to Me '' `` Life '' `` Garden Party '' `` Dream Lover '' Related articles Discography Gunnar Nelson Kristin Nelson Matthew Nelson Nelson Willie Nelson Albums Singles Songs Filmography Awards Studio albums 1960s... And Then I Wrote Here 's Willie Nelson Country Willie -- His Own Songs Country Favorites - Willie Nelson Style Make Way for Willie Nelson The Party 's Over Texas in My Soul Good Times My Own Peculiar Way 1970s Both Sides Now Laying My Burdens Down Willie Nelson and Family Yesterday 's Wine The Words Do n't Fit the Picture The Willie Way Shotgun Willie Phases and Stages Red Headed Stranger The Sound in Your Mind The Troublemaker To Lefty from Willie There 'll Be No Teardrops Tonight Stardust Sings Kristofferson Pretty Paper The Electric Horseman 1980s Honeysuckle Rose Family Bible Somewhere Over the Rainbow Always On My Mind Tougher Than Leather Without a Song City of New Orleans Angel Eyes Me & Paul Partners The Promiseland Island in the Sea What a Wonderful World A Horse Called Music 1990s Born for Trouble Any Old Arms Wo n't Do The IRS Tapes : Who 'll Buy My Memories ? Across the Borderline Moonlight Becomes You Healing Hands of Time Six Hours at Pedernales Just One Love Augusta Spirit How Great Thou Art Teatro Night and Day 2000s Tales Out of Luck ( Me and the Drummer ) Milk Cow Blues Rainbow Connection The Great Divide Nacogdoches It Always Will Be Countryman You Do n't Know Me : The Songs of Cindy Walker Songbird Moment of Forever American Classic 2010s Country Music Remember Me, Vol. 1 Heroes Let 's Face the Music and Dance To All the Girls... Band of Brothers December Day Django & Jimmie Summertime : Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin For the Good Times : A Tribute to Ray Price God 's Problem Child Willie Nelson and the Boys Live albums Country Music Concert Willie Nelson Live Willie and Family Live All of Me -- Live in Concert Willie Nelson & Friends -- Stars & Guitars Live and Kickin ' Live at Billy Bob 's Texas Outlaws and Angels Songs for Tsunami Relief : Austin to South Asia Here We Go Again : Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles Compilations Columbus Stockade Blues Country Winners The Best of Willie Nelson Spotlight on Willie Nelson Country Willie What Can You Do to Me Now The Longhorn Jamboree Presents : Willie Nelson & His Friends Willie -- Before His Time Face of a Fighter Sweet Memories Always Willie Nelson : His Very Best Greatest Hits ( & Some That Will Be ) Minstrel Man Everybody 's Talkin The Best of Willie Nelson 20 of the Best Collectors Series Half Nelson Love Songs Yours Always Super Hits Super Hits, Volume 2 Revolutions of Time... The Journey 1975 / 1993 Willie Standard Time 16 Biggest Hits Good Ol ' Country Singin ' All the Songs I 've Loved Before : 40 Unforgettable Songs Crazy : The Demo Sessions The Essential Willie Nelson Songs The Complete Atlantic Sessions Natural Renegade : Opus Collection 16 Biggest Hits, Volume II One Hell of a Ride Playlist : The Very Best of Willie Nelson Legend : The Best of Willie Nelson Naked Willie Lost Highway The Classic Christmas Album Country : Willie Nelson Books Willie : An Autobiography The Facts of Life : And Other Dirty Jokes Farm Aid : A Song for America The Tao of Willie : A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart On The Clean Road Again : Biodiesel and The Future of the Family Farm A Tale Out of Luck Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die : Musings from the Road It 's a Long Story : My Life Pretty Paper Related Trigger The Family Farm Aid Fourth of July Picnic BioWillie Willie 's Reserve Willie 's Place Willie 's Roadhouse Luck Films Pedernales Country Club The Highwaymen Outlaw country Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award The Western Express Bobbie Nelson Shirley Collie Nelson National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=My_Bucket%27s_Got_a_Hole_in_It&oldid=818250888 '' Categories : 1933 songs 1949 singles 1956 singles 1957 singles 1958 singles 1975 singles Songs written by Clarence Williams ( musician ) Hank Williams songs T. Texas Tyler songs Ricky Nelson songs Van Morrison songs Willie Nelson songs MGM Records singles Sun Records singles Imperial Records singles Island Records singles Hidden categories : All articles with self - published sources Articles with self - published sources from January 2018 Pages using web citations with no URL Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Brezhoneg Edit links This page was last edited on 2 January 2018, at 13 : 44. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who sang my bucket got a hole in it
Answer: Hank Williams; Hank Williams