Drug Store Truck Driving Man
Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels Lyrics
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He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
Well, he's got him a house on the hill
He plays country records till you've had your fill
He's a fireman's friend he's an all night DJ
He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
Well, he don't like the young folks I know
He told me one night on his radio show
He's got him a medal he won in the War
It weighs five-hundred pounds and it sleeps on his floor
He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
He's been like a father to me
He's the only DJ you can hear after three
I'm an all night musician in a rock and roll band
And why he don't like me I can't understand
He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
This one's for you, Ralph
The song "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man" by Gram Parsons is a satirical song about a DJ named Ralph Emery who worked for a Nashville country music radio station in the early 1960s. Emery's signature catchphrase was "I'm Ralph Emery, I'm a drug store truck drivin' man," which Parsons took and turned into the chorus of the song. The song is essentially a dig at Emery for his conservative views and support of the Ku Klux Klan.
The song's first verse states that Emery is the head of the Ku Klux Klan, and the second verse explains that he plays country music on his radio show, but has a different opinion than the records he plays. The third verse mentions that Emery doesn't like young people and boasts about a war medal he won that sleeps on his floor. Finally, the last verse discusses how Emery has been good to Parsons as a father figure, but despite that, he can't understand why Emery doesn't like him as a rock musician. The song ends with the line "He'll be lucky if he's not in town," implying that Emery should watch his back when he's out and about.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's a man who drives trucks to distribute drugs for a living.
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
He holds the position of authority in the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist hate group.
When summer rolls around
When the summertime arrives.
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
It would be fortunate for him if he's not present in the town during summertime, probably to avoid any conflict.
Well, he's got him a house on the hill
He owns a house located on a hill.
He plays country records till you've had your fill
He plays a lot of country music records until you're satisfied.
He's a fireman's friend he's an all night DJ
He's someone the fire department is close to and an all-night radio disc jockey.
But he sure does think different from the records he plays
But he has different beliefs and opinions from the songs he plays on his radio show.
Well, he don't like the young folks I know
He isn't fond of the younger generation of people I know.
He told me one night on his radio show
During one of the radio shows he's done, he told me.
He's got him a medal he won in the War
He owns a medal that he received as a result of his actions during a war.
It weighs five-hundred pounds and it sleeps on his floor
The medal has a weight of 500 pounds and is lying/sleeping on the floor of his house.
He's been like a father to me
He's been a father figure to me.
He's the only DJ you can hear after three
He's the only disc jockey still playing at three in the morning once the others finish for the night.
I'm an all night musician in a rock and roll band
I'm a musician in a rock and roll band that performs during nighttime.
And why he don't like me I can't understand
I don't know the reason why he dislikes me.
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
It would be fortunate for him if he's not present in the town during summertime, probably to avoid any conflict.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GRAM PARSONS, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind