But if you ask JB when the band really started, he’ll reflect back to a time rooted less in music and more in his unfulfilled dreams.
“My son, Parker, is the reason this band exists,” he explains. “Because when I learned I was going to be a father, I knew I wanted to be able to tell him he can be whatever he wants to be as long as he sets his mind to it and works hard. But I realized there was something I had wanted to do that I never had the guts to try—being a singer/songwriter. And I thought to myself, if I’m ever gonna tell my kid that he can be whatever he wants to be, then I’d better at least give this a shot. Thankfully, it has worked out. But, succeed or fail, you’ve gotta try.”
Since taking the plunge into the music business, JB and the guys have seen enough success for JB to realize he’s already accomplished his first set of goals. In just over three years, JB has written a couple of tunes that wound up atop the Billboard Texas music charts and he and the band have recorded and released two acclaimed albums—Ain’t Goin’ Back to Jail and the current Beer for Breakfast on the Average Joes Entertainment label. They’ve also been pounding the road playing shows all over the country.
So, what’s the secret to the band’s success thus far in its young career? JB thinks it comes down to two simple things: band chemistry and his commitment to staying true to himself as a writer and artist.
“When I was a teenager and saw Willie Nelson, I was awestruck,” he recalls. “And I especially liked how his band is basically like his family. My band and I are friends, first and foremost, and secondarily, we play music together. I’ve been very fortunate to have such a good group of guys.”
And the combination of the band’s great chemistry and JB’s excellent songwriting gives these East Texas boys instant credibility wherever they play. Whether cranking out no-holds-barred honky-tonk drinking tunes or throttling back to sing about matters of the heart, JB and the Moonshine Band tunes have the ring of truth. Need proof? Check out JB’s lyrical take on the perfect hangover cure from the title cut of Beer for Breakfast:
I’ve seen ‘em all hunched over prayin’ to that toilet seat Not knowin’ all they had to do was pop a top and drink
But on the other end of the spectrum, “The Only Drug,” also from Breakfast, has plenty of romance, with just a touch of that trademark JB grit:
If you’re thinkin’ I’m addicted, I guess it’s kinda true, but they can keep their drink, their smoke, their pills and their cocaine, too . . . ‘cause your love’s the only drug I do.
While the band has achieved great success in Texas and is beginning to see it blossom in other parts of the country, JB knows he has to be careful not to forsake what’s made them popular in their home state in order to gain fans elsewhere.
“I have the responsibility to myself and to my fans to be myself on my records. That’s first and foremost to me. And that’s what’s brought us this far. I just have to always remain true to myself.”
The good news is fans are loving the music on Beer for Breakfast and the response to the CD’s summer single “No Better Than This” has been beyond great.
“We did a show recently and a bunch of people were all up at the stage and singing our songs—even songs that have never even thought about being singles. There’s no better feeling on stage than to look out at a sea of people singing a song that you wrote. That’s just the ultimate to me. And I’m fortunate and blessed to be able to experience that."
So, what about those new goals?
“I want to write a song that goes Top 10 in the Billboard charts,” declares JB with a smile. “And if I got a No. 1, that’s it. I can retire. All my wildest dreams would have come true.”
That would be great for JB, but as far as his fans are concerned, they’d probably be happy with a long string of No. 2 hits . . . to keep him out there playing more great music for years to come.
Good Old Days
JB and the Moonshine Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He used to let me smoke for free, so I'd help him make his rounds
He always kept his pager on, 'cause back then nobody had cell phones
He'd get a page, and we'd be gone we must've moved a thousand pounds
God bless the good old days, when all we had to do was ride and blaze
Yeah we'd head out towards Elkhart and cut across the Lost Prairie Lake
Those backroads seem a hundred miles away
We'd try to get to school by 8, but most the time we'd roll up late
We'd have eyes as red as hades gate, and we smelled like Cheech & Chong
We'd drop a couple of drops of clear eyes in,
And take one last hit then stroll on in
Chunk the deuce to all our friends, no we couldn't do no wrong
God bless the good old days, when all we had to do was ride and blaze
I can go from Westwood to Montalba, about a hundred different ways
Those backroads seem a thousand miles away
God bless the good old days
Yeah they say that gettin' high, and gettin' stoned
Is an awful waste of time
But the memories that I cherish most are of a fat ass homegrown dime.
God bless the good old days,
When there weren't no mouths to feed or no bills to pay
We'd go all the way to Jacksonville, and never touch highway
Those backroads seem a million miles away
God bless the good old days
God bless the good old days
God bless the good old days
The song "Good Old Days" by JB and the Moonshine Band reminisces about the carefree days of youth spent smoking weed and cruising around with friends. The singer describes how he and his friend, John Dustin, used to sell weed and use it for free. They would drive around town, making deliveries and smoking along the way. In those days, pagers were the only form of communication, and they would often get calls from clients requesting their services.
Despite their risky behavior, the singer fondly remembers those days with nostalgia. They would take the backroads and explore new routes, often being late to school with red eyes and the smell of marijuana. They even had a routine of using clear eyes and dropping by their classmates to show off their cool demeanor. They felt invincible, like they could do no wrong.
The song reflects on a simpler time when there were no worries about bills or responsibilities; everything was just about enjoying the present moment. It's a celebration of youth, rebellion, and the memories that come with it. The singer acknowledges that getting high may be seen as a waste of time, but for him, those memories are priceless.
Line by Line Meaning
Back when I was 17, my friend, John Dustin, he sold weed
When I was younger, my friend John Dustin used to sell marijuana.
He used to let me smoke for free, so I'd help him make his rounds
Since I helped him sell marijuana, he allowed me to use some for free.
He always kept his pager on, 'cause back then nobody had cell phones
During that time, John Dustin relied on his pager since mobile phones were not in existence.
He'd get a page, and we'd be gone we must've moved a thousand pounds
Whenever he received a message on his pager, we would leave and presumably transported many pounds of marijuana.
God bless the good old days, when all we had to do was ride and blaze
Those were memorable times when all we used to do was drive and consume marijuana.
Yeah we'd head out towards Elkhart and cut across the Lost Prairie Lake
When we'd ride, our destination was towards Elkhart and would cross over the Lost Prairie Lake.
Those backroads seem a hundred miles away
The path we took seemed like it was far away.
We'd try to get to school by 8, but most the time we'd roll up late
We aimed to arrive at school on time, but we typically would be tardy.
We'd have eyes as red as hades gate, and we smelled like Cheech & Chong
As a result of smoking marijuana in the morning, our eyes appeared bloodshot, and we smelled like the actors of the movie, Cheech and Chong.
We'd drop a couple of drops of clear eyes in,
To cover up our bloodshot eyes, we would apply a couple of drops of clear eyes.
And take one last hit then stroll on in
Before entering school, we used to take one last dose of marijuana.
Chunk the deuce to all our friends, no we couldn't do no wrong
We would bid farewell to our friends and felt like we were invincible.
I can go from Westwood to Montalba, about a hundred different ways
I had a hundred ways of traveling from Westwood to Montalba.
Those backroads seem a thousand miles away
Even though the journey was not that far, it felt like a thousand miles due to the strong memories attached to it.
Yeah they say that gettin' high, and gettin' stoned
Even though getting high and stoned is believed to be a waste of time.
Is an awful waste of time
Many people consider getting high and stoned as nothing productive.
But the memories that I cherish most are of a fat ass homegrown dime.
Nonetheless, those moments are still the most valued memories of all, especially those involving the fat pot we used to consume.
When there weren't no mouths to feed or no bills to pay
Back then, there was no one to support or bills to pay.
We'd go all the way to Jacksonville, and never touch highway
We traveled all the way to Jacksonville but never used the highway to get there.
Those backroads seem a million miles away
Even though the backroads were not far away, it felt like a million miles due to the fond memories they hold.
God bless the good old days
May the good old days be blessed and cherished forever.
God bless the good old days
May the good old days be blessed and cherished forever.
God bless the good old days
May the good old days be blessed and cherished forever.
Contributed by Joshua N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Beverly Ann Williams
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING JB AND THE MOONSHINE BAND! THEY ARE THE BEST BAND IN EAST TEXAS! THEY ARE SO REAL AND JUST THE MOST POLITE BUNCH OF GOOD MEN SINGING THEIR SONGS! THANKS JB!!!
texasterry08
love love love this song !! God Bless those Texas boy's they are awesome !! We love jamming to JB and the Moonshine band !!
Robyn and Ryan Walley
My new favorite song!!! Shit takes me back!!
Downsideup
If I ever hear this song live it better be 10 min long!!!
James Stahler
this is exactly how my life was. it was awesome!
Matt McCool
love this song
Rob Bob
I LOVE THIS SONG! Its about me!
69STANG12
"All the way to JACKSONVILLE" Damn right buddy that my hometown. These guys are AWESOME no question about it, the music and the guys themselves.
Cory Stuart
Another good one guys!
HVVFD Secretary
This song makes me think about how we were in high school...lol I had a pager and everything lol