McCall was born Billie Dale Fries on November 15, 1928, in Audubon, Iowa. His father was also called Billie and so he was the junior. He later legally changed his name to William Dale Fries, Jr.
McCall is best known for the 1976 No. 1 hit song, "Convoy". Its theme of using CB radio to rebel against the new federal speed limit of 55 mph was popular and topical so the single sold over two million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in December 1975. Though McCall is not a one-hit wonder, "Convoy" went on to become his signature song. McCall first charted the song "Wolf Creek Pass", which reached No. 40 on the U.S. pop top 40 in 1975. Two other songs reached the Billboard Hot 100, "Old Home Filler-Up an' Keep on a-Truckin' Cafe", as well as the environmentally-oriented "There Won't Be No Country Music (There Won't Be No Rock 'n' Roll)". "Classified" and "'Round the World with the Rubber Duck" (a pirate-flavored sequel to "Convoy") bubbled under the Hot 100. A dozen McCall songs appeared on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, including the sentimental "Roses for Mama" (1977).
In 1978, the movie Convoy was released, based on the C. W. McCall song. The film starred Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Burt Young, and Ernest Borgnine and was directed by Sam Peckinpah. It featured a new version of the song, written specially for the film.
The song "Convoy" is featured in Grand Theft Auto V. In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked "Convoy" No. 98 on their list of 100 Greatest Country Songs.
In addition to the "original six" McCall albums released between 1975 and 1979, two rare singles exist. "Kidnap America" was a politically/socially-conscious track released in 1980 during the Iran hostage crisis, while "Pine Tar Wars" referred to an event that actually happened in a New York Yankees–Kansas City Royals baseball game during 1983 (a dispute concerning the application of a large quantity of pine tar to a baseball bat used by George Brett, one of the Royals' players).
Fries died on April 1, 2022, at age 93 from complications of cancer. In an interview he conducted on February 9 while in palliative hospice care, he gave his blessing for the use of his signature song "Convoy" for the Freedom Convoy protests in Canada, with Taste of Country noting that he was "energized and enthusiastic" about the revival of interest in the song and its message.
Night Rider
C.W. McCall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Night rider
Well, a-truckin' on the night line, quarter past five
Tryin' to get my rig an' me to 'Frisco alive
Fog lights up tight, a-givin' me the creeps
Just a Winnemucca trucka with a load a' black sheep
Night rider
I got a belly full a' jelly and head full a' pain
Bennies spinnin' spider webs, a-messin' my brain
Tryin' ta get myself together with a shot a' black see
What I really oughta get me is an hour a' Zs
[Chorus, but not ghostly]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights, 'til you've gone blind
Well, Alabammy Mammy got a spell on my life
Kansas City Kitty cut my heart out tonight
I lost a see-note in Reno off a' Keno and craps
And now Smokey's on the overpass a-settin' his traps
White lines lasers burnin' holes in my eyes
Feel like I'm hypnotized, think I'm gonna die
Interstate 80, gonna get me no sleep
Just a-winkin' and a-blinkin' with a stinkin' load a' sheep
[Chorus]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights, 'til you've gone blind
[A ghostly chorus]
Night rider
[Ghostly, but it's not the chorus]
Ba ba black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sah, yes sah, three bags full
One for my master, and one for my dame
And one for Jimmy Bowen who lives in L.A.
[Chorus]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind (yeah)
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
[Psychotic cackling here. He's losin' it.]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
[Fade out]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin' your mind
Look at those lights 'til you think you've gone blind
The song "Night Rider" by C.W. McCall is a narrative about the struggles of a trucker driving through the night on Interstate 80 from Winnemucca to San Francisco, who is losing his mind. The lyrics describe the trucker's physical and mental fatigue as he drives late into the night, struggling to stay awake and focused. His belly is full of food, but his head is filled with pain from taking bennies, which have him spinning webs and messing with his brain. He is desperate to stay awake, trying to get himself together with a shot of black see. The chorus, sung by a ghostly chorus, repeats the phrase "Night Rider," emphasizing the trucker's slow descent into madness.
The lyrics also contain references to various landmarks and experiences on the road, such as the hypnotic effect of the white lines on the road that burn holes in his eyes and make him feel hypnotized. He also references losing a see-note in Reno off of Keno and craps, and how "Smokey's on the overpass setting his traps." One of the most surreal moments of the song occurs when the chorus changes from "Night Rider" to a rendition of "Ba Ba Black Sheep," adding to the sense of confusion and disorientation.
Overall, "Night Rider" is a powerful depiction of what it's like to be on the road, struggling to stay awake and alert, and facing the same monotony and weariness, day in and day out.
Line by Line Meaning
A ghostly chorus
Introduction to the song and sets the eerie mood
Night rider
Repeating the song's title to emphasize its importance
Well, a-truckin' on the night line, quarter past five
Driving on the highway at 5:15 am
Tryin' to get my rig an' me to 'Frisco alive
Attempting to successfully deliver the truck's cargo to San Francisco without any problems
Fog lights up tight, a-givin' me the creeps
Nervous due to the dense fog and having the fog lights on, causing the driver to feel uneasy
Just a Winnemucca trucka with a load a' black sheep
A trucker from the town of Winnemucca, NV, hauling a shipment of black sheep
I got a belly full a' jelly and head full a' pain
The character is experiencing indigestion and a headache
Bennies spinnin' spider webs, a-messin' my brain
The character takes Benzedrine pills, causing mental confusion
Tryin' ta get myself together with a shot a' black see
Trying to combat the effects of the pills by drinking black coffee
What I really oughta get me is an hour a' Zs
Instead of caffeine, the character should take a nap/sleep
[Chorus, but not ghostly]
The main chorus of the song, discussing the dangers of driving at night
Well, Alabammy Mammy got a spell on my life
An Alabama woman has cast a spell on the character's life
Kansas City Kitty cut my heart out tonight
A woman from Kansas City has broken the character's heart
I lost a see-note in Reno off a' Keno and craps
The character lost money while gambling in Reno and now can't afford to rest
And now Smokey's on the overpass a-settin' his traps
A police officer, nicknamed Smokey, is trying to catch speeders from an overpass
White lines lasers burnin' holes in my eyes
The character is seeing the white lines on the highway as lasers, causing eye strain and fatigue
Feel like I'm hypnotized, think I'm gonna die
The character feels trapped in a trance-like state and fears the worst
Interstate 80, gonna get me no sleep
Driving on I-80 makes it impossible for the character to catch some proper rest
Just a-winkin' and a-blinkin' with a stinkin' load a' sheep
Trying to stay awake while hauling the shipment of sheep, which emit a strong odor
[A ghostly chorus]
Reiteration of the song's title to maintain suspense
[Ghostly, but it's not the chorus]
A small interlude where the character wonders if the sheep has wool and responds in the affirmative
[Chorus]
Repeating the song's chorus to highlight the insanity of driving at night and the mind-altering effects of long hours on the road
[Psychotic cackling here. He's losin' it.]
Laughing hysterically, showcasing that the long hours of driving have taken a toll on the character's state of mind
[Fade out]
Gradual end of the song while still emphasizing the dangers of night driving
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILL CUOMA, JOE FALSIA, STEPHEN SINCLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jgmopar
I just found this album at a thrift store. 1.00 and the best dollar i spent in a long time.
@iainmartin5129
Listened to this song one night trucking through west Montana outside Billings gave a really creepy feeling. Great song when up late out on the road.
@l.salisbury1253
RIP CW McCall 1928-2022
@nikothecat9985
May he Rip 😔🙏
@xaviert.123
Lord. I only just heard about his death. Rest in piece you legend, you've made my childhood. Found his songs when I was about 9, such a darn shame he's gone but he had a good run.
@LUNITICWILL
he absolutely loved that the Canadian Freedom Convoy used his song as their anthem.
@pointingdog7235
Man does this one bring back memories of I80.
@paulpeck7031
I like this song. I've always enjoyed C.W. I had him autograph a CD for me last year. he is a very down to earth guy.
@LUNITICWILL
hope you still have it. he passed away April 1st, 2022.
@BigRedPower59
My dad would play this song on an 8-track when I was 4 or 5. I remember it scare me so bad that I couldn't sleep.