Dave Dudley is best-known for his trucker songs including "Six Days on the Road" and "Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun". His duet with Tom T. Hall called "Day Drinking" demonstrated that he was not limited to trucking songs. He is one of the best-known singers of the truck-driving era in country music and was one of the icons in this category.
Dave was born in 1928 in Spencer, Wisconsin. He had a short career as a semi-professional baseball player. After he suffered an arm injury he was no longer able to play baseball. He then decided to pursue a career in country music. He was one of the earliest artists to record for National Recording Corporation on the NRC label.
He first appeared on the Country charts in 1961 with the song "Maybe I Do," released by Vee Records. He later moved to Golden Wing Records. Two years later, in 1963, the label released the single "Six Days on the Road". In 1963, Dudley moved on to Mercury records. Dave Dudley continued to have success into the 1970s. He continued to record for Mercury Records.
In the 1980s, Dave Dudley continued to record, but not as much as he once had. He remained popular in concert. In total, Dudley recorded more than 70 albums. However, he did not manage to reclaim his past success, and neither his single "Where's that Truck?", recorded with DJ Charlie Douglas, nor the track "Dave Dudley, American Trucker", recorded in 2002 in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, helped revive his career.
Dudley died on December 22, 2003 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Wisconsin.
Girl On The Billboard
Dave Dudley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who is the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
Rolling down the highway in my Jimmy haulin' freight
From Chicago to St Louis Lord I see her every day
A double clutching weasel like me can hardly ever get a girl to look at him that way
Like the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
Wow what a girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
I bet it wouldn't take her long to be gone
If someone would pull a dirty trick and take her towel away
I slow my Jimmy down to twenty that's how many wrecks I see there every day
Caused by the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
A doo da doo doo doo a doo da doo doo doo
Oh I love the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
I guess I'm gettin' bolder cause I'd rather kiss and hold her
Than just keep a lookin' at her everyday
At 4:45 coffee drinking eatin' time Jimmy shimmies
While I wake up the artist who painted the display
Of the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
Doggone that girl wearing nothing but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
Sleepy headed painter said the girl wasn't real better get the (kwee) on my way
On Route 66 from the billboard to Chicago
You will find tiny pieces of my heart scattered every which a way
Scattered by the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
A doo da doo doo doo a doo da doo doo
The lyrics of Dave Dudley's "Girl On The Billboard" talk about a girl wearing nothing but a smile and a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway. The singer is a truck driver who is rolling down the highway in his Jimmy, hauling freight from Chicago to St. Louis, and he sees her every day. He admires the girl and wishes to hold and kiss her rather than just keep looking at her every day. He even imagines how easy it would be to make the girl disappear if someone would pull a dirty trick and take her towel away.
The lyrics are about a girl who is being objectified and sexualized. The song reflects the culture of the time it was written, where women's sexuality was often used to sell products. The song also portrays the singer as a double clutching weasel, who can hardly ever get a girl to look at him that way. He notices all the wrecks that happen on that highway due to the girl, which implies that he is aware of the dangers of sexualizing women. The sleepy-headed painter reveals that the girl in the picture is not real, and the singer feels heartbroken, realizing that his imagination and desires were built on a false premise.
Line by Line Meaning
Who is the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
Who is the girl depicted in the billboard with just a smile and towel on?
In the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
The billboard is located in a field close to the highway
Rolling down the highway in my Jimmy haulin' freight
Driving down the highway in my truck, transporting goods
From Chicago to St Louis Lord I see her every day
Traveling between Chicago and St Louis, I pass by the billboard every day
A double clutching weasel like me can hardly ever get a girl to look at him that way
I'm finding it difficult as a truck driver to get a girl to show me interest like on the billboard
Wow what a girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
The girl on the billboard is quite stunning
I bet it wouldn't take her long to be gone
If someone removed her towel, she would disappear
If someone would pull a dirty trick and take her towel away
If an ill-intentioned individual removed her towel, she would vanish from the billboard
I slow my Jimmy down to twenty that's how many wrecks I see there every day
I slow down my truck to 20 mph because there are so many accidents near the billboard
Caused by the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
The accidents are a result of drivers being distracted by the girl on the billboard
Oh I love the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
I have developed feelings for the girl depicted in the billboard
I guess I'm gettin' bolder cause I'd rather kiss and hold her
My desire for her has increased to the point where I want to kiss and hold her
Than just keep a-lookin' at her every day
The temptation to remain staring at her every day is overwhelming
At 4:45 coffee drinking eatin' time Jimmy shimmies
At 4:45, during coffee and lunch break, my truck shakes
While I wake up the artist who painted the display
I go wake up the artist who designed the billboard
Of the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
Referring to the billboard with the girl wearing only a smile and towel
Doggone that girl wearing nothin' but a smile and a towel
I can't stop thinking about the girl on the billboard
Sleepy headed painter said the girl wasn't real better get the (kwee) on my way
The sleepy painter claims that the girl on the billboard is not real and tells me to leave
On Route 66 from the billboard to Chicago
I was heartbroken on my journey from the billboard near Route 66 to Chicago
You will find tiny pieces of my heart scattered every which a way
My heart is shattered into pieces and scattered throughout the journey
Scattered by the girl wearin' nothin' but a smile and a towel
The cause of my heartbreak is the girl on the billboard wearing only a smile and towel
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Mills, Walter Haynes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
taty fonseca
It kept me on the road from coast to coast , Thanks Dave and truckers everywhere .
WetChicken
I was a kid in the 70's, and my dad had some log trucks. I would ride with him as often as I could and there was one 8-track in particular that we listened to and it really stuck with me. 'Road Music 23 Truckin' Hits' This was one of the songs on there, not this version, but I do like it.
Of course the truck driver has stayed in me since then. Miss you, Dad.
Lord Humungus
had a picture of an old cab over with a woman hitch hiking. great album no bad songs on there
Alan Clark
I was 48 when you left your comment, now I'm in my mid fifties, I guess time flies when you're having fun, but it sounds like you and I had the same childhood.
289a
Awesome version!
David Bowers
great voice
mark jarvis
reminds me of when my Dad and I drove from Vancouver Canada to the Yukon 3000 miles when we had to work there he passed away 2010 rip Dad.
Band_Freak14
My grandpa loved this song it waz his favorite but he passed away in 2010 R.I.P.
William. Patrick Mahonev
Thanks .
jesse clifford
Makes me want to drive a big ol' truck..