Song #31: Hank Williams III - "If the Shoe Fits"

Song #31: Hank Williams III - "If the Shoe Fits" (1999)

Risin' Outlaw

"If the shoe fits, wear it, and if the truth hurts, bear it; well, that's the kind of life I'm living and I plan on living long."

There's a piercing honesty and sense of realism in Hank Williams III's "If the Shoe Fits," one of the earliest songs he released on his debut album Risin' Outlaw in 1999. It has been the subject of my curiosity for years, as it basically details a down-to-earth ideology of settling for the bare-basics in terms of having a comfortable life and looking past the truth's flaws, even if it hurts. The song could really be the staple for the American man in the present-day, and the fact that it's a country song - a genre so unfairly and ignorantly bashed by far too many - makes it that much more meaningful.

If you read the quote above, you know what the song's about. The song concerns Hank Williams III detailing his outlaw life, while stating that if something fits acceptably, he'll take it, and if the truth hurts, take it as it is because there is nothing you can do about it.

Hank Williams III has always had a brutally honest way of looking at life, but his sensibilities are expressed in a much harsher, stronger way than ever before with "If the Shoe Fits." The song personifies a "rhino-skin" attitude to issues, as well as details the culture and environment III grew up around. The song is a truly remarkable iteration of culture and personal attitude, set to a fantastic instrumental and provided with splendid vocals by III.

Give "If the Shoe Fits" a listen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLpW6gHaaYM