Coe's rebellious attitude, wild image, and unconventional lifestyle set him apart from other country performers, both winning him legions of fans and hindering his mainstream success by alienating the music industry establishment. Coe continues to be a popular performer on the country circuit.
Coe was born in Akron, Ohio. His favorite singer as a child was Johnny Cash. After being sent to the Starr Commonwealth For Boys reform school at the age of nine, he spent much of the next 20 years in correctional facilities, including three years at the Ohio Penitentiary. Coe claimed he received encouragement to begin writing songs from Screamin' Jay Hawkins, with whom he had spent time in prison.
After concluding another prison term in 1967, Coe embarked on a music career in Nashville, living in a hearse which he parked in front of the Ryman Auditorium while he performed on the street. He caught the attention of Shelby Singleton, owner of the independent record label Plantation Records and signed a contract with his label.
He is the father of Tyler Mahan Coe, who created the country music podcast Cocaine & Rhinestones. He has a daughter, Shelli Coe Mackie, and is father-in-law to the late Michael Mackie, formerly of Texas band 'Thunderosa'.
Coe's musical style derives from blues, rock, and country music traditions. His vocal style is described as a 'throaty baritone'. His lyrical content is often humorous or comedic, with William Ruhlmann describing him as a 'near-parody of a country singer'. Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes Coe as "a great, unashamed country singer, singing the purest honky-tonk and hardest country of his era […] he may not be the most original outlaw, but there is none more outlaw than him".
Coe's lyrics frequently include references to alcohol and drug use, and are often boisterous and cocky. Coe's debut album Penitentiary Blues was described as "voodoo blues" and "redneck music" by Allmusic's Thom Jurek. It focused on themes such as working for the first time, blood tests from veins used to inject heroin, prison time, hoodoo imagery, and death. The album's influences included Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Tony Joe White. Coe later explained to Kristofer Engelhardt of Review: "I didn't really care for some of the country music until people like Kris Kristofferson and some of those people started writing songs. They had a little more to say than just, 'Oh baby I miss you', or whatever. I don't do anything halfway. Once I got into country music, I went back and researched it, and learned everything there was to know about it. I could do impersonations of Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Marty Robbins, just about anybody. I knew just about all there was to know about country music."
Coe's first country album, The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, has been described as alt-country, 'pre-punk' and "a hillbilly version of Marc Bolan's glitz and glitter". Credited influences on the album include Merle Haggard. In his early career, Coe was known for his unpredictable live performances, in which he would ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the stage and curse at his audience. Coe has also performed in a rhinestone suit and a mask which resembled that of the Lone Ranger, calling himself the 'Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy'.
The album Rebel Meets Rebel featured a song, "Cherokee Cry", which criticizes the United States government's treatment of Native Americans. When asked why he did not write more political songs, Coe replied, "I live in my own world, not thee world. I just write songs about what affects me in everyday life. At one point I wrote a song that was sort of a protest about when they were talking about drafting women into the military. It was about my son making it past the draft, but my daughter didn't. And I've done Farm Aid."
In his review of Coe's 1987 album A Matter of Life...and Death, Allmusic's Thom Jurek wrote, "Coe may have had some hits, but it is records like this that make one wonder if there was not a conspiracy to marginalize him and make him fail. Coe is a brilliant songwriter well into the 21st century, and deserves to be lauded along with the likes of [Willie] Nelson and [Waylon] Jennings and Kristofferson and Newbury – and even Cash."
Six Days on the Road
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I pulled out of Pittsburgh headed down the eastern seaboard.
I got my deisel wound up and she's runnin' like never before.
My hometown's commin' in sight, if you think I'm happy your right.
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
Well it seems like a month since I kissed my baby goodbye.
I could have a lot of women, but I'm not like some other guys.
but I could never make believe its alright.
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
Well the ICC is a checkin' on down the line.
I'm a little overweight and my log book's way behind.
Nothin' bothers me tonight, I can dodge all the scales alright.
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
Got a ten forward gears and a Georgia overdrive.
I'm takin' little white pills and my eyes are open wide.
I just passed a Jimmy and White, I've been passin' everything in sight.
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
David Allan Coe's "Six Days on the Road" is a classic country song about the life of a truck driver. The singer of the song is a truck driver who has been on the road for six days and is finally heading home. The song expresses the isolation and loneliness of the life on the road, as well as the determination of the truck driver to make it back home to his loved ones.
The lyrics paint a picture of a long journey that has taken the singer from Pittsburgh down the eastern seaboard. He has been driving non-stop for six days, pushing his diesel engine to its limit. The excitement of finally getting closer to his hometown is palpable in the lyrics, as he exclaims that he is going to make it home tonight. The singer confesses to missing his loved ones, but he also acknowledges that he is not like other guys who would seek comfort in other women. He is steadfast in his loyalty to his loved one, refusing to settle for anything less.
The lyrics also touch on the challenges of the truck driving profession, with the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) checking on the truck and the log book hopelessly behind schedule. But the singer is undeterred, confident that he can dodge all the scales and make it through. He also describes the truck's mechanics, including the ten gears and Georgia overdrive, and the little white pills he takes to stay awake. The climax of the song comes when he passes another truck with the trademark Jimmy and White logo, leaving behind everything he has passed during the six days on the road.
Overall, "Six Days on the Road" captures the hardworking spirit of truck drivers, emphasizing their resilience and determination to make it home to their loved ones. The song has resonated with listeners for decades and continues to be a classic truck driving anthem.
Line by Line Meaning
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
After six long days of driving, I am finally going to make it back home tonight.
Well I pulled out of Pittsburgh headed down the eastern seaboard.
I left Pittsburgh and drove down the eastern coast.
I got my deisel wound up and she's runnin' like never before.
My diesel engine is running better than ever.
My hometown's commin' in sight, if you think I'm happy your right.
I can see my hometown and I'm excited to be getting close to home.
Well it seems like a month since I kissed my baby goodbye.
It feels like it's been a long time since I kissed my loved one goodbye.
I could have a lot of women, but I'm not like some other guys.
Even though I could have many women, I am not like other men who cheat on their partners.
I could have one to hold me tight, but I could never make believe its alright.
I could have someone to hold me, but I cannot pretend that everything is alright without my loved one.
Well the ICC is a checkin' on down the line.
The Interstate Commerce Commission is conducting checks along the road.
I'm a little overweight and my log book's way behind.
I am carrying too much weight and I haven’t kept my logbook up to date.
Nothin' bothers me tonight, I can dodge all the scales alright.
Despite these issues, I am not worried tonight and can avoid any checks successfully.
Got a ten forward gears and a Georgia overdrive.
My truck has ten gears and a Georgia Overdrive (a special gear ratio for highway driving).
I'm takin' little white pills and my eyes are open wide.
I am taking stimulant pills to stay alert during the drive.
I just passed a Jimmy and White, I've been passin' everything in sight.
I just overtook another truck and have been overtaking all vehicles in my path.
Six Days on the Road and I'm gonna make it home tonight.
After six long days on the road, I am finally going to be back home tonight.
Contributed by Chloe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@harryboyes2812
Years ago my Dad told me to make sure this song was played at his funeral. So two years ago I did. RIP, Dad 😢
@nostalgia3281
My sincere sympathies dude. 🙏😪
I'm from Canada. I know what you're talking about, it reminds me my Dad.
My Dad passed away the same, more than six years ago now. He was singing Country songs and playing guitar. I miss him everyday. It's a beautiful testimony to your Dad. I like this song so much, it give me chills everytime when I listen to it.
Take care dude.
😢😪
@shaneconnors757
Bless your Dad
@nostalgia3281
@@shaneconnors757
Thanx buddy.
🙏😥❤️
@deborahchesser7375
Your Dad must have loved those big trucks, he’s smiling down on you now 😊
@bobbuch9605
Dave Dudley bought me a beer at the Ramada Inn in Waynesville, MO in early 1972. I was at Ft. Leonard Wood. I believe I had just finished basic training and was getting ready to head to Ft. Eustis for further training before heading to Viet Nam. Nice guy.
@tippyhat1061
Nice
@nightcrawler1
thats awesome....got my first tattoo in waynesville mo just outta basic been truckin 32 years now
@alexr8906
Thank you for your service sir
@dick_richards
Amazin, and Amazin for your service Sir!!