In the late '60s and early '70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably "Diamonds & Rust," a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and "Sweet Sir Galahad," a song about sister Mimi Fariña's ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.
She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of "We Shall Overcome" at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream..." speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.
In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country's "Christmas Campaign," in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the "Queen of Folk" for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Over fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.
1959
Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 Joan Baez featuring Jeffrey Shurtleff is a powerful critique of a bigoted radio DJ who presents himself as an all-American, good-natured person but harbors deep-seated prejudices. The lyrics describe the DJ as a drug store truck driver and a senior member of the Ku Klux Klan, showing that he is involved in actively promoting hate and discrimination against marginalized groups. The song further highlights the contradictions in the DJ's personality, such as his supposed love for country music, even as he disdains the younger generation and people of color.
Despite his behavior, the DJ has a loyal following, including the songwriter, who describes him as like a father to him. However, the song hints at the feelings of uneasiness and confusion this connection may engender, as the songwriter struggles to understand how someone who supposedly stands for all-American values could also hold such repugnant beliefs. Ultimately, "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man" is a call to recognize and confront prejudice and bigotry in all its forms, and to hold influential figures accountable for the harmful ideas they espouse.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He is a man who drives a truck for a drug store
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
He is the leader of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
When summer arrives
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
He will be fortunate if he is not present in town at that time
Well, he's got him a house on the hill
He owns a house on a hill
He plays country records till you've had your fill
He plays country music records until you can't handle it anymore
He's a fireman's friend he's an all night DJ
He is a friend of a fireman and an all-night disc jockey
But he sure does think different from the records he plays
However, he has different thoughts and beliefs from the music he plays
Well, he don't like the young folks I know
He does not like younger people that I am aware of
He told me one night on his radio show
He informed me of this one night on his radio program
He's got him a medal he won in the War
He possesses a medal he acquired during the war
It weighs five-hundred pounds and it sleeps on his floor
It is so massive that it weighs five hundred pounds and rests on his floor
He's been like a father to me
He has acted as a fatherly figure in my life
He's the only DJ you can hear after three
He is the sole disc jockey you can tune in to after three in the morning
I'm an all night musician in a rock and roll band
I am a musician in a rock and roll band who performs all evening and night
And why he don't like me I can't understand
I don't understand why he has dislike for me
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
He will be fortunate if he is not present in town at that time
This one's for you, Ralph
This song is dedicated to you, Ralph
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GRAM PARSONS, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bengalaexplosiva9207
He's a drugstore truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer comes rollin' around
We'll be lucky to get out of town
He's been like a father to me
He's like the only DJ, you can hear after three
And I'm an all night singer in a country band
And if he don't like me, he don't understand
He's a drugstore truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer comes rollin' around
We'll be lucky to get out of town
He's got in my house on the hill
And he can play country records till you've had your fill
And he's a mormon's friend, he's an all night DJ
Sure don't think much like the records he plays
He's a drugstore truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer comes rollin' around
We'll be lucky to get out of town
He don't like resistance I know
And he said it last night on a big TV show
And he's got him a medal that he won in the war
Weighs five hundred pounds and it sleeps by the door
@jimiamore
I was lucky to be a part of this time.......those were the days......long hair....torn jeans and good, good, good music.
@greenchange2477
Yes, the music today is just dreadful in comparison to the music of that time.
@georgeeckart4654
Viet Nam. I loved it!
@millukemau
He's a drugstore truck drivin' man .. he's the head of the Ku Klux Klan .. when summer comes rollin' around .. we'll be lucky to get out of town ....
@markross2124
I campaigned for that son of a b. and have since repented of that terrible sin many times.
@7thsonofa7thson80
Love this song. Missed woodstock . Born to late. Still love the music. Seen the documentary movie many times.
@davidskipsey300
yah, i saw in JB while shopping one in brisbane cbd of the whole entire 3 days for $299.00, a 3dvd set.
@robertkimmins5665
they left out the part where Jeff says something like "we'd like to dedicate this song to the governor of California.....Ronald Reaganzzzzz"
@diskman3001
robert kimmins yes I took out the intro
@robertkimmins5665
sorry i'm not a reagan fan. he told us we are sick.