Kaw-Liga
Hank Williams Sr. · 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection, Vol. [2006]
(Hank Williams - Fred Rose)
Kaw-liga was a wooden Indian standing by the door
He fell in love with an Indian maiden over in the antique store
Kaw-liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer "yes" or "no."
He always wore his Sunday feathers and held a tomahawk
The maiden wore her beads and braids and hoped some day he'd talk
Kaw-liga, too stubborn to ever show a sign
Because his heart was made of knotty pine.
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he never got a kiss
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he don't know what he missed
Is it any wonder that his face is red
Kaw-liga, that poor ol' wooden head.
--- Instrumental ---
Kaw-liga was a lonely Indian, never went nowhere
His heart was set on the Indian maid with the coal black hair
Kaw-liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer "yes" or "no."
And then one day a wealthy customer bought the Indian maid
And took her, oh, so far away, but ol' Kaw-liga stayed
Kaw-liga just stands there as lonely as can be
And wishes he was still an old pine tree.
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he never got a kiss
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he don't know what he missed
Is it any wonder that his face is red
Kaw-liga, that poor ol' wooden head...
Kaw-liga was a wooden Indian standing by the door
He fell in love with an Indian maiden over in the antique store
Kaw-liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer "yes" or "no."
He always wore his Sunday feathers and held a tomahawk
The maiden wore her beads and braids and hoped some day he'd talk
Kaw-liga, too stubborn to ever show a sign
Because his heart was made of knotty pine.
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he never got a kiss
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he don't know what he missed
Is it any wonder that his face is red
Kaw-liga, that poor ol' wooden head.
--- Instrumental ---
Kaw-liga was a lonely Indian, never went nowhere
His heart was set on the Indian maid with the coal black hair
Kaw-liga just stood there and never let it show
So she could never answer "yes" or "no."
And then one day a wealthy customer bought the Indian maid
And took her, oh, so far away, but ol' Kaw-liga stayed
Kaw-liga just stands there as lonely as can be
And wishes he was still an old pine tree.
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he never got a kiss
Poor ol' Kaw-liga, he don't know what he missed
Is it any wonder that his face is red
Kaw-liga, that poor ol' wooden head...
Kaw-Liga
Hank Williams Sr.'s "Kaw-Liga" stands as a quintessential example of his raw, acoustic country storytelling. Recorded during the height of his career, the track captures the artist's signature blend of melancholic vocals and simple instrumentation, characteristic of his work in the early 1950s. The song reflects the personal struggles and emotional depth that defined Williams's discography, often exploring themes of heartbreak and resilience through his unique vocal delivery. As part of his broader catalog, "Kaw-Liga" exemplifies the traditional country sound that earned him enduring fame and cemented his legacy as a foundational figure in American music history.