The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
http://www.charliedaniels.com/
Trudy
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
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Send a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
And they won't let me outta this jail
And if she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
Now Johnny Lee Walker was a card mechanic
Had a hand for trouble and a eye for cash
Luckiest man in Dallas County
He had a gold watch chain and a black mustache
And he loved his whiskey and he loved his women
Drove a big long Cadillac limosine
Kept a big fine fancy townhouse in Dallas
And a hotel suite in New Orleans
Carried a switchblade knife in his left hip pocket
And a 44 hog leg up under his coat
Cut you down in a New York minute
If he catch you cheating that was all she wrote
So call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
And they won't let me outta this jail
If she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
And the girl I left behind
I just got to town last Friday evening
Sure as hell didn't mean to stay
I was on my way back to Louisiana
Had a powerful thirst and six months pay
I met a peroxide blonde in a bar on D-ville
I was flying high and feeling mean
Poured down a bottle and a half of red eye
I dropped 35 dollars in the slot machine
And the boys in the back was dealing 7 card
I set down and won me a 110
I was raking in chips like Grant took Richmond
Till big Johnny Lee come a strolling in
He ripped off the bar like a 707
Pretty soon he done won all of my bread
I accused him of cheating he reached for a pistol
I grabbed a chair and went upside of his head
Then I took off a running like a motorcycle
Heard the bullets whining and sirens wail
But it took half the cops in Dallas County
Just to put one coon *** boy in jail
So call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
And they won't let me outta this jail
And if she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
And the girl I left behind
The song "Trudy" by Charlie Daniels Band is a story about a man who is stuck in a Dallas jail and asks his friend to call his girlfriend Trudy and tell her about his situation. The man met a woman in a bar and spent all his money playing cards, only to be cheated by Johnny Lee Walker. When the man accused Johnny of cheating, a fight broke out and the man accidentally hit Johnny with a chair. As a result, the police arrested the man and he is now in jail. He is desperate and worried about Johnny and the girl he left behind.
The song is a classic country story song, with vivid characters and a narrative arc. It has a strong sense of place, with references to Texas, Louisiana and New Orleans, and the characters are colorful and memorable. The song's structure is simple, with a repeating chorus and a verse that advances the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Call up Trudy on the telephone
He wants someone to call Trudy for him.
Send a letter in the mail
He wants someone to send a letter to Trudy, but he can't do it himself because he is in jail.
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
He wants Trudy to know that he is stuck in jail in Dallas.
And they won't let me outta this jail
He is unable to leave the jail in Dallas.
And if she asks you how I'm fairing
In case Trudy asks how he is doing, he wants someone to give her an update.
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
He is very stressed and worried about his situation in jail.
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
He is concerned about Johnny Lee Walker, who is a dangerous man he crossed in Dallas.
And the girl I left behind
He is also worried about a woman he left in his home state of Louisiana.
Now Johnny Lee Walker was a card mechanic
Johnny Lee Walker was a card cheat.
Had a hand for trouble and a eye for cash
He was troublemaker who only cared about money.
Luckiest man in Dallas County
Johnny Lee Walker was considered the luckiest man in the area.
He had a gold watch chain and a black mustache
He was known for wearing a gold watch chain and having a black mustache.
And he loved his whiskey and he loved his women
He was known for enjoying alcohol and women.
Drove a big long Cadillac limosine
He drove a luxurious Cadillac limousine.
Kept a big fine fancy townhouse in Dallas
He owned a luxurious townhouse in Dallas.
And a hotel suite in New Orleans
He owned a luxurious hotel suite in New Orleans.
Carried a switchblade knife in his left hip pocket
Johnny Lee Walker carried a dangerous switchblade knife in his pocket.
And a 44 hog leg up under his coat
He also carried a .44 pistol under his coat.
Cut you down in a New York minute
Johnny Lee Walker was quick to use his weapons and had a violent temper.
If he catch you cheating that was all she wrote
If he caught someone cheating, he would kill them.
I just got to town last Friday evening
He arrived in Dallas last Friday night.
Sure as hell didn't mean to stay
He did not plan to stay in Dallas for long.
I was on my way back to Louisiana
He was traveling back to his home state of Louisiana.
Had a powerful thirst and six months pay
He had a lot of money and wanted to drink alcohol.
I met a peroxide blonde in a bar on D-ville
He met a woman in a bar on Dalllasville.
I was flying high and feeling mean
He was intoxicated and feeling aggressive at the time.
Poured down a bottle and a half of red eye
He drank a lot of whiskey.
I dropped 35 dollars in the slot machine
He played the slot machines and lost money.
And the boys in the back was dealing 7 card
Some men were playing a card game in the back of the bar.
I set down and won me a 110
He started playing the card game and won a lot of money.
I was raking in chips like Grant took Richmond
He was winning a lot of poker chips, similar to how General Ulysses S. Grant won the Civil War battle of Richmond.
Till big Johnny Lee come a strolling in
Johnny Lee Walker walked into the bar.
He ripped off the bar like a 707
He won a lot of money very quickly, similar to how a Boeing 707 airplane takes off quickly.
Pretty soon he done won all of my bread
Johnny Lee Walker won all of his money.
I accused him of cheating he reached for a pistol
He accused Johnny Lee Walker of cheating and Johnny Lee pulled out his gun.
I grabbed a chair and went upside of his head
He hit Johnny Lee Walker with a chair.
Then I took off a running like a motorcycle
He ran away very quickly.
Heard the bullets whining and sirens wail
He heard gunshots and police sirens.
But it took half the cops in Dallas County
The police had to use a lot of resources to catch him.
Just to put one coon *** boy in jail
They finally arrested him and put him in jail.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE DANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@susangooch7087
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Lyrics
Call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
They won't let me outta this jail
And if she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
And the girl I left behind
Now Johnny Lee Walker was a card mechanic
Had a hand for trouble and a eye for cash
Luckiest man in Dallas County
He had a gold watch chain and a black mustache
And he loved his whiskey and he loved his women
Drove a big long Cadillac limosine
Kept a big fine fancy townhouse in Dallas
And a hotel suite in New Orleans
Carried a switchblade knife in his left hip pocket
And a .44 hog leg up under his coat
Cut you down in a New York minute
If he catch you cheating that was all she wrote
So call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
And they won't let me outta this jail
If she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
And the girl I left behind
I just got to town last Friday evening
Sure as hell didn't mean to stay
I was on my way back to Louisiana
Had a powerful thirst and six months pay
I met a peroxide blonde in a bar on D-ville
I was flying high and feeling mean
Poured down a bottle and a half of red eye
I dropped 35 dollars in the slot machine
And the boys in the back was a dealing 7 card
I set down and won me a 110
I was raking in chips like Grant took Richmond
Till big Johnny Lee come a strolling in
He ripped off the table like a 707
Pretty soon he done won all of my bread
I accused him of cheating he reached for a pistol
I grabbed a chair and went upside of his head
Then I took off a running like a motorcycle
Heard the bullets whining and sirens wail
But it took half the cops in Dallas County
Just to put one cool ass boy in jail
So call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
And they won't let me outta this jail
And if she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
And the girl I left behind
Call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
Tell her I'm hung up in Dallas
And they won't let me outta this jail
If she asks you how I'm fairing
Tell her I'm just about to lose my mind
Worried about old Johnny Lee Walker
And the girl I left behind
Call up Trudy on the telephone
Send her a letter in the mail
@auntfloyd9408
Quick story about Charlie, years ago a friend and I went fishing in a small pond off an old back road in Mount Juliet, saw a guy coming toward us, figured this was his land and would run us off, it was Charlie Daniels, he was very nice and hospitable and ask us " if the fish were bitin?" He said, let me run get my fishing pole and I'll join you, he did, it was a cool experience, but that was Charlie, just a down to earth dude. They brought Charlie Daniels through Mount Juliet to the funeral home Monday 07/06, the streets were lined with his neighbors and fans, he was the pride and heart of Mount Juliet, Tennessee and icon there, and had been for many years! Godspeed Charlie, not only your music is your legacy, but your testimony and faith!
@paultruskowski9147
Nice memory I never got to meet him but I always thought he was a true gentleman. RIP Charlie
@andyford8359
Charlie's gone to a place where the fish always bite and the party never ends!
@susangooch7087
@@andyford8359 ~AMEN 👍🏻!! & “Johnny Lee Walkers “ bail always made honey ! “ ...
@debbied7803
Made me cry
@GypsyRain42
I've always heard he was very nice. That sounds like a great memory!
@katran2326
My husband & I drove truck for the CDB for 5 years, most wonderful man, best band on the planet! I love you Charlie! me & Frank! oxoxox
@mikewysocki6179
You probably blew my door off a time or 2!
@jeffvandagrif
👏👏👏 thanks, Charlie !!! We'll all see you soon !
@jasonjohnson7445
I was fortunate enough to talk to Charlie Daniels backstage before a concert at Isleta Casino in Albuquerque (2003). He was a patriot and a Southern gentleman.