My dear old friend Walter Haynes R.I.P. wrote this song in traffic licking his finger and writing it in the dash of his car. Walt was steel guitarist for Patsy Cline,Little Jimmy Dickens & many more and got producer of the year for Satin sheets and Country Bumpkin. He was also VP of MCA records & produced many Country Giants. I was proud to be in a band with him for 9 years. We both played with Johnny Paycheck in 93. Man what a song this is! I miss you Walt!
Thx for info. Incredible song. The comedy, pathos and absurdity of the truck driver - a noble, blue collar tough guy working hard for a living, turned into a helpless, drooling fool - is more relevant than ever. The guy's been played and doesn't really know what hit him. Now, he's been replaced by nerds who can code, who can create software to drive his truck. There's a darkness beneath these lyrics, an insidious malice that infects the soul of society like a virus. Today that character is jobless, or hanging on to his job by a thread as he's plied with porn, junk food and ads for gambling. Del Reeves dignifies the guy with sheer edge, humor. Layered, layered, important song. Water Haynes wrote a masterpiece here. A legit heartfelt satirical masterpiece. I think you can tie a direct line from this song to the Jan 6 attack on the capitol. Psyched to go check out rest of his work.
Replying because of reference to Satin Sheets. I saw Marty Robbins in 1979. He and band were wearing tuxedos. Marty introduced his guitar player, Jack Pruitt and said his wife Jeannie Pruitt sang Satin Sheets. Much applause followed. Jack was a very dignified presence on stage. I was fortunate to meet Marty after the show.
@@SS-sk3sh oh yes. Walt produced those Del Reeves records. I love all those older guys that played pedal steel. They’re true Hero’s. I spoke to Buddy Emmons about 5 years before Walt’s passing and he told me Walter gave him his break with Little Jimmy. What a gracious Mozart on the double neck Buddy was….
A perfect example of why 1965 remains the best year EVER for music. This single was out at the same time as everything from Leroy by Norma Tracey and The Birds And The Bees by Jewel Akens to El Pussy Cat by Mongo Santamaria and Susan Wayne's Think Summer. You can't beat that kind of rich diversity. And Franklin Delano Reeves always got the job done. Magnificent.
I remember my dad singing to this song when I was a kid and I was only like seven years old I can remember it like it was yesterday when we would be traveling in the car it was just amazing to remember that
Ain't nothing like Del Reeves to remind you you're still haulin' ass down the line. Keep on trucking buddies! That's a big ole ten four from you're old pal laughing.
The girl wearing nothing but a smile and a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway. Doodle doo doo doo... The man's having an existential crisis while operating heavy equipment!
