Drug Store Truck Drivin Man
Joan Baez & Jeffrey Shurtleff 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 Driving Man" by Joan Baez and Jeffrey Shurtleff is an ironic commentary on a racist KKK leader who also happens to be a DJ and a truck driver. The lyrics describe this man as someone who lives on a hill, plays country music records, thinks differently from the records he plays and has a medal from the war that weighs 500 pounds and he sleeps with it on his floor. He is also described as someone who does not like young people and who is the head of the Ku Klux Klan.
The song is dripping with sarcasm as the singer describes this man as "been like a father to me" and "the only DJ you can hear after three," despite his racist views. The lyrics suggest that the singer cannot understand why the truck driver dislikes him, despite being a musician in a rock and roll band. The refrain of the song repeats the lines "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." This suggests that the KKK leader may be more active during the summer months and that people in the town may not be safe from his violent and hateful ways.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a critique of the hypocrisy of people who claim to be upright citizens but hold racist beliefs or perpetrate violent acts. It also highlights the power of music to expose social issues and challenge the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He drives a truck for a drug store.
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
He holds a high rank in a white supremacist organization.
When summer rolls around
During the summer months.
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
He might face trouble while staying in town.
Well, he's got him a house on the hill
He lives in a house on the top of a hill.
He plays country records till you've had your fill
He enjoys playing country music records for hours.
He's a fireman's friend he's an all night DJ
He's a DJ who is friendly with firefighters and works overnight.
But he sure does think different from the records he plays
His opinions are different from the message conveyed by the songs he plays.
Well, he don't like the young folks I know
He dislikes younger people that I know.
He told me one night on his radio show
During one of his radio broadcasts, he said to me...
He's got him a medal he won in the War
He has a medal that he earned during the war.
It weighs five-hundred pounds and it sleeps on his floor
The medal is so heavy that it stays on his floor, unused.
He's been like a father to me
He has been a father figure to me.
He's the only DJ you can hear after three
He's the only DJ who broadcasts after three in the morning.
I'm an all night musician in a rock and roll band
I'm a musician who performs all night in a rock and roll band.
And why he don't like me I can't understand
I don't understand why he dislikes me.
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
He might face trouble while staying in town.
This one's for you, Ralph
This song is dedicated to you, Ralph.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRAM PARSONS, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tower-f5w
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
@davidqualls6044
Joan Baez was a fabulous voice for change during the turbulent 1960's
@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!
@sunshinelee736
And I am from that time. Went to Woodstock and all. What a time!!!
@juicyjim7434
Really? What was it like?
@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.
@alcrissman4647
50 yrs later wish we could all go back to those days ...
@alanwyatt6220
The good old days had their problems that continue today. Help with the resistance from the fascists of today.