This song is on the Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde album by the Byrds. It’s a really good song and the song’s origin is interesting. It was written in response to an on-air argument with Ralph Emery, who was an all-night country DJ on a country radio station at the time. It was written by Roger McGuinn and Gram Parsons. The song was an open letter to Emery.
Before I get into the song which I really like…I want everyone to know I’m not downing Emery because of this. I grew up with Ralph Emery on television in the 1970s. I was never a fan because his show wasn’t in my age group. To be fair to Ralph…he did invite Roger McGuinn on his show in 1985 when Vern Gosdin covered Turn, Turn, Turn and Roger played guitar. He was on there more than once so it was all in the past by that time. Times had changed so much by the 80s…rock and country went together by then but in the 60s Buck Owens touched on it but not many people were doing both…the Byrds with Gram Parsons were pioneers in a way with Sweetheart Of The Rodeo.
In 1968 The Byrds were in Nashville promoting their new country album Sweetheart of the Rodeo and got a cool reception at the Grand Ole Opry. They got into an argument with Emery on air when he said that “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” wasn’t country and then proceeded to call them long-haired hippies and would not play the record. He also didn’t understand what the song meant and Roger told him that Dylan wrote it…well that didn’t help!
Ralph Emery would not budge…It was the 1960s in a very fifties Nashville and Ralph could not get past the hair although they didn’t have excessively long hair. It would open up a bit in the early seventies with Outlaw country music by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. That movement would soon join traditionalists and the outlaw crowd together. They Byrds helped, in their own way, to make that happen.
The lyrics were about the narrow-mindedness of then certain segments of the country music industry. Lines like “He’s the all-American boy” and “he don’t like the way we play” reflect the hate that McGuinn and Parsons felt from some in Nashville. The title, “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man,” is a dig at Emery, suggesting that he was more of a conventional figure who could not appreciate or understand the Byrds’ approach to country music. But I’m glad it happened because we got a good country-rock song out of it.
Chris Hillman: “There was the funny story with Ralph Emery, the DJ in Nashville, where he had The Gilded Palace Of Sin tacked on the wall outside of his office, and with a big red pen it said, ‘This is not country music.’ Roger and Gram had gone to do an interview with him when we were all still with the Byrds, and Ralph was such a jerk to them then that they wrote that song “Drug Store Truck Driving Man”. A classic! I wish I’d written a part of that. But later, whenever I’d go on his show with the Desert Rose Band, Ralph would ask, “Did you write that song?” Finally, I had to say, “No, but I wish I had!” So when Roger was on later, Ralph would say, “Well, how is Gram doing?” and Roger would answer, “He’s still dead.” McGuinn was pretty darned quick in those situations!”
I’m adding a live version and a hell of a story by Jason and the Scorchers…on how they played this song and it found a spot on Ralph Emery’s TV show in the early 80s.
Ralph Emery when he invited McGuinn on his show in 1985
Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man
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
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Man Oh Man, what a great post, Max. I loved the Byrds and their country music after Parsons joined them. Emery was old school Nashville, sort of like Chet. They just didn’t get it, but now they do.
Thanks Phil! I love this period of them as well. They really opened the doors for so many artists to go through. We did get a good song out that anyway.
Sounds pretty country-ish to me! On the other hand, it was his radio show, if he didn’t want to play their music on it, so be it.
I think it was more the way he went about it lol…he was not nice at all and insulted them. Hey I’m glad…we got a cool song out of it!
That’s true… Maybe made them double-down on the country feel though.
Ralph wasn’t the most liked person even in country circles…. but yea…they were country just not George Jones country…but who is?
Good song. It’s always a fine time to listen to the Byrds.
I can’t agree more to that!
I always thought it was a pretty satirical song, but never knew the backstory. I had this one on a collection with “Chestnut Mare” — maybe that song is Emery’s speed?
lol yea he might have liked that one!
You know I like this stuff. I had no idea who Ralph was so I looked him up (Something I rarely do because Im lazy). I think he interviewed Leo Kottke a long time ago and it was hard to watch.
Yea I didn’t want to slam him because it was a different generation but…he was not polite at them at all…and I know people who knew him…he wasn’t Mr Nice. But as I told people…I’m glad he was or we would have never got this song.
From that one interview I saw it wasnt going to bring me back. There’s an art to it. Carson, Cavett and a few others had he touch. Pattie Smith wanted to be Carson.
Yes Cavett is my top guy in that (although I did like Carson). I tell people Cavett didn’t interview people…he had conversations with them…there is a difference.
Now that is a show I would watch…Smith talking to people.
The “conversation” is the goal. Make folks comfortable. Smith would be a gas.
From adversity we grow- and from the Byrds what a kickass rebuttal to Ralph.
Always good to hear Jason and the Scorchers put the afterburners on any song.
I’ll look up Ralph ‘Mister Nice Guy’ Emery and check out if he really was such a tosser/Stetson wearing asshat. Old Country was so insular for far too long.
Thanks obbverse….I put that Jason clip in for you…well I loved it as well!
Yea it wasn’t that he denied them…he was just damned rude.
Thanks for the scorching Max. It sounds like Ralph truly was an ornery cuss.
Yes I’ve met people who was around him…he really could be ornery.
Great title for a song. Surprised someone hasn’t nicked that for a title in 2024. I remember Emery and is it Crook and Chase? Another show on CMT? When we first got a few more American channels CMT was one of ‘em and occasionally I would watch it and it was the first place I saw Steve Earle right about Copperhead Road and I was like this dude needs be in GNR lol
LOL he fit there more with GNR.
Yea he was on CMT….before that he was on local channels here in the 70s…
I always liked this song. Lloyd Green’s pedal steel makes it sing. Great to hear the backstory.
I love that song. And how that bonehead DJ at the time wouldn’t call it country really is beyond me. I get it the times were different – still, come on! Well, I’m glad Roger McGuinn and Ralph Emery essentially reconciled on live TV.
Yea they were alright at the end…but yea he could be a jerk…I love this song.
BTW, did you see my email I sent late last night? It might have gone into your spam since it included a hyperlink to some great music. I’m pretty sure you’re going to like it as well!😀
I sure did…sorry it took me so long!
Never mind, I just saw your response. If the hyperlink works you can preview the entire album. It feels like instantly going back 50 years!
Cool dude!
Sure was odd that Joan Baez sand this song at Woodstock!
That is odd.
Badfinger
The movie critic statement that his performance” “was over the top” should have been “top performance” instead
He made a simple plot a hit. in my opinion…
Regards and goodwill blogging.”
I totally agree with you! It doesn’t get old on rewatchings.
I have a few Byrds singles but only one cd compilation. Nice track
The interview video is priceless! Talk about some d***-swingin’ going on. LMAO. Rog’ expressions are priceless. Hella good song. Musicians can speak volumes in just a few words. The continuing refrain says it all. This song makes me think of The Byrds music on the soundtrack of, “Easy Rider.” Another gem with Jack Nicholson in it.
Oh I love Easy Rider…it’s weird seeing the Ralph Emery I grew up with talking to who I consider one of my favorite guitar players in Roger McGuinn
I didn’t realize there was a Byrds song after Sweetheart with some Parsons involvement.
I have to wonder if he is playing on it…I think he quit after the tour they were on.
I assume it’s recorded after Gram Parsons and Hillman left – Wikipedia says the whole album was recorded in October 1968.
That makes sense.