My hometown has its very own “Kaw-Liga.” I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the humorous Hank Williams song “Kaw-Liga,” but it was extremely popular back in the 1950’s and 60’s in the U. S. It was the story of a wooden Indian (American Indian) who stood consistently in front a store and, unfortunately, fell in love with a wooden Indian maiden who stood at the door of an antique store not far away. When I discovered this carving masterpiece in front of a hometown store recently, I was taken back to the days of Hank Williams and his famous song. I knew I had to share it.
The link below the photo is to a video of a live performance of the song by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, Jr. (the author’s son) — recorded at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, when the Opry was still in its original home at the Ryman Auditorium right in the middle of downtown Nashville. That auditorium holds a lot of wonderful memories for me, because my family and I lived in Nashvillle during some of those years, and we attended the Opry and took family and friends numerous times to rub shoulders with the country music greats. This video is my personal favorite recording of the song because it offers so much in the way of atmosphere as the cameras pan the auditorium from time to time.
Even if you’ve never heard the song before, hop over and listen. You’ll enjoy it!
Watch Video Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VL1MCqZQ5dU
(Should there be anyone reading this post who feels that this subject matter in any way treats Native Americans in a derogatory manner, let me hasten to say that I am Native American and am very proud of that heritage. As such, I am not the least bit insulted by the song or the wooden sculpture, and as far as I’m concerned, that settles the issue.)
The Happy Wordcrafter 
Wait… isn’t Kaw-Liga what Michael Douglas said gave him cancer???
He never had a kiss. I love that song, but now you’ve put it in my head. It sucks that you have to try not to offend anyone; it’s like that wooden Indian “Seinfeld” episode. I love wooden Indians!
I love wooden Indians too. I always have. And this store actually has two different ones. I think they want to sell them, but I bet they are going for a hefty price.
I remember that song from when I was little but never knew that the word he was singing was Kaw-Liga!
Have heard this one a few times,, and yes did enjoy it… 🙂
I’m native American too – born and raised in the good ol’ U.S. of A., as were my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents….
My local tobacconist has a carved wooden Indian – very unPC. I’m a native Australian.
Yes, it is very unPC — which, of course, is why I added the disclaimer at the end of the article. But I figure if I’m “one of them,” and it doesn’t offend me, they’ll have a hard time proving that it offends “us.” Besides, with all the laws making it wrong to do so many things that we used to be free to do, what’s a good old hard-core conservative got to do except promote unPC material in order to aggravate the liberals? (Joking, of course, but sometimes it is a whole lot of fun.)
Hi Sandra, I’d like to use your photograph on my meetup page for an event. Here is how it looks.
https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-ehZSsnUF/events/259172461/
Please let my know it that’s good with you.
Thanks, Dwight
That’s fine. I’m glad it’s helpful. It sounds like a fun group.