I Saw the Light (Hank Williams song)

"I Saw the Light"
Single by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
B-side	"Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)"
Published	November 16, 1948 Acuff-Rose Publications[1]
Released	September 1948
Recorded	April 21, 1947[2]
Studio	Castle Studio, Nashville[3]
Genre	Hillbilly, Country blues, gospel
Length	2:45
Label	MGM
Songwriter(s)	Hank Williams
Producer(s)	Fred Rose
Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys singles chronology
"I'm a Long Gone Daddy" (1948) "I Saw the Light" (1948) "A Mansion on the Hill" (1948)

"I Saw the Light" is a country gospel song written by Hank Williams. Williams was inspired to write the song while returning from a concert by a remark his mother made while they were arriving in Montgomery, Alabama. He recorded the song during his first session for MGM Records, and released in September 1948. Williams' version did not enjoy major success during its initial release, but eventually it became one of his most popular songs and the closing number for his live shows. It was soon covered by other acts, and has become a country gospel standard and often a classic for summer camps.

In September 1946, Hank Williams auditioned for Nashville's Grand Ole Opry but was rejected. After the failure of his audition, Williams and his wife Audrey tried to interest the recently formed music publishing firm Acuff-Rose Music. Williams and his wife approached Fred Rose, who signed him to a six-song contract, and leveraged a deal with Sterling Records.^[4] In December 1946, Williams had his first recording session. The songs "Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)" and "Honky Tonkin'" became successful, and earned Williams the attention of MGM Records.^[5] His first MGM session took place on April 21, 1947. The first song he recorded was "Move It on Over". The second was "I Saw the Light".