How many Truck Driver Songs do you know by heart? This week our installment takes a look at one of the most well-known of the musical trucker heroes.
David Allan Coe is a true original who sings about truck driving, but doesn’t seem to fall into the category of “novelty act” like so many before him. He’s done it his own way nearly from the beginning. He shunned Nashville and classic country fame by living on the edge of polite society, having also served two prison sentences early on in his career. Did we mention he also lived in a cave for a time? Yeah, Coe is that kind of guy.
Although he developed a cult following with his performances, he was not able to develop any mainstream success, but other performers achieved charting success by recording songs Coe had written, including Billie Jo Spears’ 1972 recording “Souvenirs & California Mem’rys” and Tanya Tucker’s 1973 single “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone),” which was a number one hit.
Later in his career, Coe turned to rock and metal icons to help him further his reputation. He worked with both Kid Rock and the aggro-metal pioneers Pantera for inspiration to varied effect. He still performs to this day.