Daddy (I Need You Tonight)
Hank Williams Jr. · One Night Stands [1977]
And he wrote the songs everybody played back in his day
Daddy's gone but the songs still linger
In the memory of the ones who can recall the way he played
But I don't want to make a living, not the one my daddy had
Hey, just because the old is good don't mean the new is bad
And I don't sing the way my daddy did
But you know I do alright
And I don't say it like my daddy did
But I need you tonight
All my life I've been on stages
You won't believe some of the places
That I've played in my day
I guess I've earned a lot of wages
But not enough to match the dues that I've paid in my day
And it's nice to find some people like you as I go from town to town
'Cause as long as y'all are with me you know I'll be around
No I don't sing the way my daddy did
Hey you know I do alright
And I don't say it like my daddy did
But I need you tonight
And I don't sing the way my daddy did
But you know I do alright
And I don't say it like my daddy did
But I need you tonight
Daddy (I Need You Tonight)
Hank Williams Jr.'s "Daddy (I Need You Tonight)" stands as a defining track from his 1977 album *One Night Stands*. Recorded during a pivotal era for the outlaw country pioneer, the song exemplifies his signature blend of blues-inflected rock and traditional country storytelling. The recording captures the raw energy and vocal grit that characterized his work in the late 1970s, reflecting themes of familial connection and personal struggle that were central to his artistic identity. As part of his extensive discography, this track remains a staple of his live performances and a testament to his influence on the modern country-rock genre. It showcases his ability to deliver emotionally resonant narratives through powerful instrumentation and his distinctive vocal delivery.