Drug Store Truck Driving Man
The Byrds Lyrics


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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'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
But he sure does think different from the records he plays

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

Overall Meaning

The Byrds's song "Drug Store Truck Drivin'" presents a satirical portrayal of a truck driver who also happens to be the leader of the Ku Klux Klan. The song's opening lines immediately capture the listener's attention as they juxtapose the mundane job of a drug store truck driver with the alarming and disturbing fact that this man is the head of the KKK. This lyric can be interpreted to reflect the reality that true evil can often be hidden in plain sight, appearing in the most ordinary of situations.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this truck driver's musical tastes and his personal beliefs are at odds with each other. The artist describes how he can often be heard playing country records and acting as a friend to the local firefighters, but his Klan membership and his bigoted views towards young people suggest that his true nature is much darker than his facade lets on. The final verse focuses on the complexity of the singer's relationship with this man, acknowledging the affectionate and familial feelings he has towards him while also grappling with the fact that his beliefs are reprehensible.


Overall, "Drug Store Truck Drivin'" is an insightful and timely commentary on the prevalence of everyday evil and the ways in which hatred and bigotry can manifest itself in unexpected places.


Line by Line Meaning

He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's a man who drives a truck for a drug store


He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
He's the leader of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group


When summer rolls around
During summertime


He'll be lucky if he's not in town
It would be fortunate if he's not present in town


Well, he's got him a house on the hill
He owns a house situated on a hill


He plays country records till you've had your fill
He plays country music records until you're satisfied


He's a fireman's friend he's an all night DJ
He's friends with firemen and works as an all-night DJ


But he sure does think different from the records he plays
However, his personal beliefs differ from the music he plays


Well, he don't like the young folks I know
He doesn't like young people that I'm familiar with


He told me one night on his radio show
He once expressed his thoughts on his radio show


He's got him a medal he won in the War
He obtained a medal from a war he fought in


It weighs five-hundred pounds and it sleeps on his floor
The medal is extremely heavy, weighing 500 pounds, and is kept on the floor


He's been like a father to me
He's been like a father figure to me


He's the only DJ you can hear after three
He's the only DJ playing music after 3 AM


I'm an all night musician in a rock and roll band
I'm a musician playing in a rock and roll band all night


And why he don't like me I can't understand
But I don't know why he doesn't like me


He'll be lucky if he's not in town
It would be fortunate if he's not present in town


This one's for you, Ralph
This song is dedicated to Ralph




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GRAM PARSONS, ROGER MCGUINN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@eastlondonblues

Lloyd Green and Clarence White = pure magic.

@jg300ascout1

I was commanding an M113 ACAV armored vehicle in Vietnam in 71-72 and down on the front slope ahead of my driver was painted "I'm a Drug Store TRACK Drivin' Man" as a pun and homage to this song. As my driver was black, that made it just that much sweeter.

@timothywelch4949

😎

@timothywelch4949

Btw, Thank you for your SERVICE!!

@solarguy1702

This reminds me of basic training the day we got our heads shaved. Black guy Sewell looked at me and started singing Almost Cut My Hair by David Crosby.

@joewilley7776

11th armored calv ? Welcome home brother

@jg300ascout1

@@joewilley7776 Yep, among others. Thx.

11 More Replies...

@jimihendrix6969

"I'm an all night musician,
in a rock and roll band...."

Fine lines from a great song.

@freedogbilly

This is one of my favorites, Happy Birthday Gram Parsons ❤

@Zebedeez_Nuts

Gram Parsons is an absolute legend

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