"Lovesick Blues" is a show tune written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills. The song first appeared in the 1922 musical "Oh, Ernest". It was first recorded by Elsie Clark and then by Jack Shea (both 1922). Emmett Miller recorded it in 1925 and 1928, followed by country music singer Rex Griffin circa 1938. The recordings by Griffin and Miller inspired Hank Williams to perform the song during his first appearances on the "Louisiana Hayride" radio show in 1948. Receiving an enthusiastic reception from the audience, Williams decided to record his own version despite initial push back from his producer Fred Rose and his band.