Jimmy Martin (August 10, 1927 – May 14, 2005) was an American bluegrass mus… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Martin (August 10, 1927 – May 14, 2005) was an American bluegrass musician, known as the "King of Bluegrass".

Born James H. Martin in Sneedville, Tennessee, beginning in 1949 Martin was lead vocalist for Bill Monroe's "Bluegrass Boys,". Martin's high voice mixed with Monroe's tenor came to be known as the "high lonesome" sound. His influence radically changed Monroe's music from the fast-paced but smooth style of the "original" 1945 band with Flatt and Scruggs. Martin challenged Monroe to raise the pitch on many of his classics and to write new, "lonesome" songs. This band with Rudy Lyle (banjo) and Charlie Cline (fiddle) was one of the many high points of Monroe's career. Martin's lead was defining in "lonesome" songs such as "Sitting Alone in the Moonlight", "Memories of Mother and Dad" and "I'm Blue, I'm Lonesone".
Martin had a famously high-strung and exuberant personality, and inevitably clashed with Monroe's equally stubborn temperament. He left Monroe and worked briefly with the Osborne Brothers until he formed his own band, "The Sunny Mountain Boys" in 1955. The classic lineup of this band, with J. D. Crowe and "Big" Paul Williams (stage name for Paul Humphries) defined his "Good 'n Country" style, a commercially-oriented, crowd-pleasing bluegrass with simple harmonies, catchy melodies, and a strong rhythm propelled by Martin's simple but effective guitar playing. Among his biggest hits of the 1960's were "Hit Parade of Love", "Sophronie", "Stepping Stones", and "Widow Maker" (a popular truck driver's song).
Martin was famous as a dangerously unpredictable but highly-entertaining stage presence. He freely acknowledged his problems with drinking and volatile mood swings, which kept him from realizing his life-long dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry.
He made frequent appearances on the Louisiana Hayride and the Wheeling Jamboree, as well as the Grand Ole Opry, but was never invited to join the latter.
He performed on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1971 album, Will the Circle be Unbroken. In 1995, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. A documentary on his life, King of Bluegrass: The Life and Times of Jimmy Martin, was released in 2003. Martin is also featured in High Lonesome.
Martin's hobby was raccoon-hunting with dogs; he famously featured his hunting dogs on the covers of several LP albums and wrote songs celebrating their prowess.
Jimmy Martin died Saturday May 14, 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee after having been diagnosed with bladder cancer more than a year earlier. He is interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison, Tennessee.

Truck Drivin' Man
Jimmy Martin Lyrics

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I pulled inta a road house in Texas
A little place called Hamburger Dan's
I stuck me a quarter in the jukebox
And I played the song of truck drivin' man

Then a waitress then brought me some coffee
I thanked her then called her back again
I said that old song sure does fit me

Cause darlin' I'm a truck drivin' man

Pour me another cup of coffee
Cause it is the best in the land
And put another quarter in the jukebox
And play the song of truck drivin' man

I crawled back aboard my old semi
And then like a flash I was gone
I got the old truck wheels a rollin'
And now I'm on my way to San Antone

Pour me another cup of coffee...
Cause it is the best in the land
And put a another quarter in the jukebox
And play the song of truck drivin' man

Hey pour me another cup of coffee...
Cause it is the best in the land
And put a another quarter in the jukebox
And play the song of truck drivin' man

Play that song of truck drivin' man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jimmy Martin's song Truck Drivin' Man describe a truck driver stopping at a road house in Texas called Hamburger Dan's. He puts a quarter into the jukebox and selects the song Truck Drivin' Man, which he believes captures his identity as a truck driver. The truck driver orders some coffee and reflects on his profession, feeling a sense of pride in being a truck driver. He finishes his coffee, pays the waitress, and climbs back into his truck to continue his journey to San Antone. The song ends with the truck driver requesting to play Truck Drivin' Man once again on the jukebox.

At its core, Truck Drivin' Man is a tribute to the hardworking individuals who make their living driving trucks. Many truck drivers spend long hours on the road, sacrificing time with family and friends in order to transport goods across the country. The song captures the sense of identity and camaraderie that many truck drivers feel within their profession. Martin's use of vivid imagery and straightforward lyrics make the song a powerful tribute to the often-overlooked individuals who keep the economy moving.

Line by Line Meaning

I pulled inta a road house in Texas
I arrived at a roadside establishment in Texas

A little place called Hamburger Dan's
The establishment was named Hamburger Dan's

I stuck me a quarter in the jukebox
I inserted a coin into the jukebox machine

And I played the song of truck drivin' man
I chose to listen to the song 'Truck Drivin' Man'

Then a waitress then brought me some coffee
A server brought me some coffee

I thanked her then called her back again
I expressed my gratitude and requested some more coffee

I said that old song sure does fit me
I stated that the song resonated with me

Cause darlin' I'm a truck drivin' man
Because I'm a man who drives a truck

Pour me another cup of coffee
Please pour me more coffee

Cause it is the best in the land
Because it's the best coffee I've had

And put another quarter in the jukebox
Please insert another coin in the jukebox