On This Day in 1947, Hank Williams Recorded the Biggest Flop of His Career—Inspired by a Fugitive Who Finds Love

On this day (August 4) in 1947, country icon Hank Williams stepped into Castle Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, to record “On the Banks of the Old Ponchartrain.” Backed with “Fly Trouble,” Williams released the single in September of the same year, and it failed to chart.

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While Williams is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential artists in the history of country music, he didn’t find consistent chart success until late 1948. His first four singles–“Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door),” “Wealth Won’t Save Your Soul,” “My Love for You (Has Turned to Hate),” and “Pan American”–failed to chart. His first single to land on the country chart was “Move It on Over,” which peaked at No. 4. He hoped to follow that success with “On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain.” However, that plan didn’t pan out.

[RELATED: On This Day in 1949, Hank Williams Made His Grand Ole Opry Debut After Releasing One of the Biggest Hits of His Career]

How Hank Williams Felt About “On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain”

“On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain” was originally a poem by Ramona Vincent. She sent the poem to Hank Williams, who put her words to a melody and created the song. It tells the story of a fugitive who escaped from a Texas prison and ran to Louisiana. He stops to rest on Lake Pontchartrain, where he meets a woman and falls in love. In the end, the police catch him and take him back to prison. The themes of heartbreak and traveling help it fit perfectly with the rest of Williams’ discography.

Colin Escott wrote about Williams’ feelings on the song in Hank Williams: The Biography (1994). Later in his career, when someone would congratulate him for a hit song, he’d say, “At least it wasn’t another damn ‘Pontchartrain.’”

While “On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain” fits well with the rest of Williams’ discography, the same can’t be said for its B-side. Penned by Fred Rose, Bunny Biggs, and Honey Wilds, “Fly Trouble” was a Western Swing novelty song about being annoyed by flies. It sticks out among the rest of Williams’ recordings like a sore thumb.

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