A House of Gold

"A House of Gold"
Single by Hank Williams
A-side	"How Can You Refuse Him Now?"
Released	1954
Recorded	1948 or 1949, Shreveport
Genre	Country
Length	2:15
Label	MGM Records
Songwriter	Hank Williams

"House of Gold" is a hymn written by Hank Williams. ^[1] It was released by MGM Records as the B-side to "How Can You Refuse Him Now?" in 1954. It was recorded as a demo when Williams worked the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport between August 1948 and May 1949. ^[2] The song admonishes those who "steal, cheat, and lie" in pursuit of material wealth rather than finding salvation in God. Despite being a posthumous single that he never recorded with his band in a studio, "A House of Gold" became one of Hank's most covered hymns.

Cover versions

• The Jordanaires also covered the song in 1956.
• George Hamilton IV cut the song in 1958 for ABC.
• Floyd Cramer recorded an instrumental version for RCA in 1962.
• George Jones recorded the song as a duet with Melba Montgomery in 1964 for United Artists.
• Porter Wagoner cut it in 1966.
• Hank Williams, Jr. cut the song for MGM in 1969.
• The Seldom Scene covered the song on their album Act Two in 1973.
• Kenny Rankin covered the song in 1970 and again in 1976.
• Connie Smith recorded the song on Columbia in 1975.
• Moe Bandy covered the song in 1983.
• Mike Ness covered the song on the album "Under The Influences" in 1999.
• Dierks Bentley covered the song in 2008.
• Willie Nelson included a version on his 2010 album Country Music .
• The Secret Sisters on their debut album.

References

1. Escott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004.
2. Escott, Merritt & MacEwen 2004, p. 331.

Sources

• Escott, Colin; Merritt, George; MacEwen, William (2004). Hank Williams: The Biography. Little, Brown. ISBN   978-0-316-73497-4.