Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man
The Byrds · Complete Album Collection [2011]
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
Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man
The Byrds' "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man" stands as a defining track of the late 1960s folk-rock revival, blending the band's signature jangly guitar work with a narrative driven by Bob Dylan's lyrics. Originally recorded for their 1966 album "The Byrds at San Francisco," the song captures the weary spirit of a traveling salesman, a theme that resonated deeply within the era's counterculture. The recording features the band's characteristic blend of harmonies and acoustic instrumentation, marking a pivotal moment where the group successfully integrated Dylan's storytelling into their own sound. This composition remains a staple of the genre, illustrating the Byrds' ability to evolve from their earlier psychedelic experiments into a more grounded, narrative-driven style that influenced countless subsequent artists.