 " 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 recorded by Emmett Miller in 1928 and later by country music singer Rex Griffin . The recordings by Griffin and Miller inspired Hank Williams to perform the song during his first appearances on the Louisiana Hayride 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 . 
