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.
Mad
Dave Dudley Lyrics
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So I spent the whole weekend out
I got home Monday morning
Tore up like a can of kraut
My only suit was layin' on the steps
I just picked it up and run
And I ain't been back there since
Well mad yeah she's mad
It's back to the doghouse
I know from the practice I've had
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
She's five feet three
And weights about hundred and eight
She's the kind of gal don't believe
In men a makin' mistakes
She's sweet and mighty nice
But when she's mad
She's got a voice that'll cut through ice
Well mad ooh she's mad
It's back to the doghouse
I know from the practice I've had
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
She's got eyes like a cat
And she watches every move that I make
An alarm clock mind
That's ringin' every time that I'm late
I'm sorry, sick and all alone
But I'll have to stick it out
'Cause it just ain't safe to go home
Well mad ooh she's mad
It's back to the doghouse
I know from the practice I've had
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
In the obituary column
They've already printed my name
Dave Dudley's "Mad" is a classic country song that tells the tale of a man who has ticked off his lady and is regretting it. The song's title refers to his girlfriend's state of mind, which is currently furious due to his behavior. The singer of the song admits that he spent the entire weekend partying and getting high, implying that his girlfriend has every reason to be angry with him. He returns home on Monday morning to find himself in the doghouse, with his only suit lying on the steps outside.
The singer describes his girlfriend as a petite woman, standing at five-foot-three and weighing around 108 pounds. While she may be gentle and kind, when angry, she has a voice that could cut through ice, and she is not one to forgive and forget easily. The singer knows that when she is mad, he is playing a dangerous game, and he admits that he has already seen his own name printed in the obituary column. He describes her as being like an alarm clock, always watching him and keeping track of his every move.
Despite being sorry for his behavior and isolated from her, he knows that it is still unsafe to go home. The song emphasizes the singer's fear of his girlfriend when she is angry, and he appears to take responsibility for his actions by admitting that he knows he is in the wrong. In conclusion, the song tells the classic story of a man who has upset his partner and is now living in fear of her anger.
Line by Line Meaning
I got about half high
I had consumed an intoxicant that had me feeling partially numb.
So I spent the whole weekend out
As a result of the induced state of mind, I stayed away from home the entire weekend.
I got home Monday morning
After spending the weekend out, I returned home on Monday morning.
Tore up like a can of kraut
I returned home in a state of disarray and ruin, just like an opened can of sauerkraut.
My only suit was layin' on the steps
My only piece of formal clothing was left outside my door.
I just picked it up and run
I hastily snatched the suit and ran away.
And I ain't been back there since
I avoided going back to my home because of the chaos that awaited me there.
Well mad yeah she's mad
My partner was extremely furious with me.
It's back to the doghouse
I am in trouble and back in the same situation that a dog might find himself in when he has done something wrong.
I know from the practice I've had
I have had past experiences that have taught me how to deal with situations like this.
When she's mad I play a dangerous game
I take a risk by interacting with my partner in such an angry state.
In the obituary column
The section of the newspaper that displays notices about people who have died unexpectedly.
They've already printed my name
My partner was capable of causing serious harm to me, both physically and emotionally.
She's five feet three
My partner is not very tall and stands only five feet and three inches.
And weights about hundred and eight
She is quite slim and only weighs 108 pounds.
She's the kind of gal don't believe
She is the sort of woman who is skeptical of men and their intentions.
In men a makin' mistakes
She has little patience for males who make errors.
She's sweet and mighty nice
Despite her stern demeanor, she can be quite pleasant and charming.
But when she's mad
However, when someone causes her anger, her temperament can become explosive.
She's got a voice that'll cut through ice
Her tone is powerful enough to make even the most thick-skinned person reconsider their actions.
She's got eyes like a cat
Her stare is sharp and concentrated like that of a feline.
And she watches every move that I make
She pays close attention to my actions, studying every tiny detail and taking it all in.
An alarm clock mind
It seems that she has a mind that is always ticking away like a clock.
That's ringin' every time that I'm late
When I do not fulfill my commitments on time, I can almost hear her mind ringing with annoyance and frustration.
I'm sorry, sick and all alone
I am deeply apologetic and feeling poorly both physically and emotionally, as I currently have no support system.
But I'll have to stick it out
I must endure this rough period and suffer the consequences of my actions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind