Alabama |Photo Credits: billboard.com

About the Song

Released on January 6, 1984, “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)” is a truck-driving country music that was first recorded by American country and Southern rock band Alabama. The lyrics were actually penned by American singer-songwriter Dave Loggins. The song was the first single as well as the title track of Alabama’s eighth studio album, Roll On. Moreover, the band co-produced it with music industry executive and producer Harold Shedd for RCA Records. Alabama originally recorded it on November 10, 1983, less than two months before its official release.

Most noteworthy, “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)” was a massive hit for Alabama in the mid and late 1980’s. In fact, the song became the band’s 12th straight no. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In addition, the song also became the best country song in Canada charting no. 1 on the RPM Country Tracks in 1984.

Story Behind the Song

There are many songs in country music that have been inspired by truck driving — a common job of country folks and also a tradition. One of the best examples of these songs is this Alabama hit. To be specific, “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)” started as an inspiration of Alabama to this honored tradition in country music. As a matter of fact, the song is their tribute to the American truck driver.

Photo Credits: Wikipedia

Moreover, “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)” narrates a story of a man (a truck driver) who drives an eighteen-wheeler truck to support his family of five. In the song, he leaves his family for several days to go to the Midwest. On the other hand, while his children gather around in sadness, their mother would always remind them to keep the song their father taught them in mind:

“Roll on highway, roll on along, roll on Daddy ’til you get back home, roll on family, roll on crew, roll on mama like I asked you to do.”

This line serves as the refrain of the song. As the song progresses, the mother of the children receives a phone call one late night. From an unknown caller, he tells her that the highway patrol discovered a semitrailer truck jackknifed along a connecting highway in Illinois. Patrols have been in search for the husband, but they could not do more of the searching nor find him because of the strong blizzard. Despite having no news from her husband, the wife still remains confident that he is alive and in the right condition. As a result, she and her children went on and continued praying for the father to be safe and sound.

Anticipating a good news, the wife then receives a phone call after a couple of days. The person on the other line was none other than her husband who is apparently safe. With joy, his wife that “the Man upstairs” (God) whom she believed granted their prayers.

LISTEN to Alabama’s 1984 hit “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler):”

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