Their music bridged the gaps between the socially and spiritually conscious folk music of Bob Dylan, the studio trickery of The Beach Boys, and the sardonic rock of The Beatles. Some of their trademark songs include pop versions of Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man and Pete Seeger’s Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season), and the originals I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, and Eight Miles High. Throughout their career they helped forge such subgenres as folk rock, raga rock, psychedelic rock, jangle pop, and – on their 1968 classic Sweetheart of the Rodeo – country rock inviting Gram Parsons on rhythm guitar.
The original and most successful lineup consisted of Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Michael Clarke, Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark. After several line-up changes (with lead singer/guitarist McGuinn as the only consistent member), they broke up in 1973.
In 1991 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and several band members launched successful solo careers after leaving the group. The most successful was David Crosby who was inducted again for his work with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Other than The Beatles, the only artist with all members inducted twice are, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Drug Store Truck Driving Man
The Byrds 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 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
@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.
@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