Lyr Req: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...

Subject: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: GUEST,CB James
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 09:29 PM

He's the head of the Klu Klux Klan

When Summer comes rolling around

We'll be lucky to get out of town.



I recall singing this around campfires in the late sixties / early seventies. I know there is more to it.

Anybody know the words? Or who wrote it? (On the latter I could imagine a number of possibilities but I would probably only demonstrate my own ignorance by stating them.)

Comme toujours - Thanks in advance.

cbj

Subject: RE: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: khandu
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 09:45 PM

I heard it on the Woodstock soundtrack, was it Joan Baez? or Country Joe?

Ever who it was said it was for Ronald Regan.

khandu

Subject: RE: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: mack/misophist
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 09:48 PM

Another line,
The head of the Ku Klux Klan,

Subject: RE: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Stewie
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 10:14 PM

It is by Roger McGuinn and Gram Parsons. You can find a set of lyrics HERE

--Stewie.

---

HE'S A DRUGSTORE TRUCK DRIVIN' MAN
McGuinn & Parsons

He's a drugstore 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 drugstore 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

[Joan Baez] …and we would like to dedicate this verse to the governor of California…Mr Ronald Reagan…'z'a'…!

He don't like resistance I know
And he said it last night on a big TV show
He's got him a medal that he won in the war
Weighs 500 pounds and it sleeps by the door

He's a drugstore 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 drugstore 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
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town.

https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?lang=en&id=1310

Subject: RE: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: GUEST,CBJames
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 11:03 PM

Hey Stewie - Thanks!!
It's a fun song. McGuinn & Parsons were both in the Byrds? I was just a teenybopper when the Byrds hit the scene and paid little attention to the provenance of the music unless it was written by folkies. (It was only decades later that lines like "McGuinn and McGuire were just getting higher" sank in. )

Thanks Stewie.

james.

Subject: RE: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Bob Cummins
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 12:05 AM

I replied to your message, and just as I tried to post it, my Windows MEss computer crashed. (I HATE this P. O. S. computer!) (g)

I was trying to explain the origin of this song. It was written by McGuinn and Parsons after a cold reception they received from Ralph Emerey. At the time, he was a DJ on WSM, a clear-channel AM radio station out of Nashville. (He later hosted a talk show, Nashville Now, on the old TNN. (The Nashvlle Network, then.)

It seems Emery did not like The Byrds because they were (gasp) trying to infuse country with a rock beat. (Can you hear the sounds of screams? (g))

If it weren't for The Byrds' Sweethearts of The Rodeo album, there might neve have been a country-rock sound, The Eagles, or much of what is now called "New Country".

By The way, McGuinn is now back into the folk music arena. He is appearing onstage tomorrow night, (10/5/2002) at Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ.

His web site, www.mcqguinn.com, has a large number of free, downloadable MP3 files of folk music songs he recorded. He still plays his 12-string guitars, and banjo, too, on them. There is also a downloadable video of him playing a recently recorded version of "Turn, Turn, Turn" on his 12-string Rickenbacker guitar.

Subject: RE: 'He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: GUEST,CBJames
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 12:16 AM

Bob
Thanks for the info.
James.

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: khandu
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 07:02 PM

But who sang it on the Woodstock soundtrack?

khandu

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 12:53 PM

As far as I recall, it was Joan Baez. I thought Woodstock was an overblown event, and paid it little notice, but the movie had some interesting moments.

- LH

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:32 PM

Hey, this was Gram's song more than Roger McGwinn's and he did it with Emmy Lou Harris when they were touring.

And, "Why he don't like me... I don't understand"...

Not too complimentary to those who call the shots, decide whoes hot and whose not and think the air waves are their own personal domains.

There is a song by Mark Germano entitled, "WANT" or someting like that that deals with the same issues. It's about a DJ, Rex Bob Lowenstien, who plays whatever he wants and, well, that ain't enough...

Bobert

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:45 PM

The Germino song is titled 'Rex Bob Lowenstein' and can be found on Mark Germino 'Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves' RCA APCD 6031 [1987] - a brilliant album, but probably hard to come by now. Great song too. The chorus goes:

And his name is Rex Bob Lowenstein
He's forty seven going on sixteen
His request line's open, but he makes no bones
About why he plays Madonna after George Jones

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: khandu
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:46 PM

Little Hawk, Woodstock was overblown, as were the heads of all who attended it!

Where was Shatner during Woodstock?

khandu

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:57 PM

Looking through the collection, Mark Germino recorded 'Rex Bob L' again with his group The Sluggers on his album titled 'Radartown' RCA PD90550 [1991], but that too has probably disappeared like many a good album! I can post the full lyrics if anyone is interested.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 04:33 AM

When I was in radio, I used to work with a D.J. called Roger Scott who was one of the first (and only) jocks in the U.K.at the time to play 'Rex Bob Lowenstein'. It perfectly summed up his own attitude to music broadcasting. Sadly, Roger died too young (from stomach cancer)and a memorial concert was held at Abbey Road Studios, graced by many artists who held Roger in high regard. Chris Rea sang a beautiful version of one of Roger's favourite songs 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco', Cliff Richard did 'Move It', Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe did their 'Beverly Brothers' routine, plus there was Mark Knopfler and many more. The highlight, though, was Mark Germino, who had flown over specially, singing Rex Bob Lowenstein. There wasn't a dry eye in the place!

BJ

BJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: He's a drugstore, truck-drivin' man ...
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:26 AM

The Woodstock version was sung by Joan Baez and Geoffrey (spelling?) Shurtleff. Shurtleff introduced the tune by dedicating it "to Ronald Ray-gun - Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzap!"

Thanks for the info about it's having been written with Ralph Emery in mind; ever since first hearing it in conjunction with Woodstock, I've never been able to hear or play it without associating with RR, the Great (sic) Communicator (sic).

And on the head of McGuinn returning to his folk roots, if you haven't yet heard his multi-artist collaboration "Songs from the Folk Den", (featuring Jean Ritchie, Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez among many others) you're missing some wonderful music. (Personal thanks to Mudcatter Dharmabum for having turned me on to that particular gem!)