CW Mcall Convoy

[@Hurricaneintheroom]

This song came out during the big disputes between the truckers, police, & companies. Truckers created these big long lines of trucks to protest & make a point. They were able to maneuver semi's so they could block police cars, cars, trucks, etc. No one could pass in another lane to get past them. And if you were on a 2 lane highway you were pretty much screwing to travel along with them at the same speeds so they wouldn't run you over. You should look up old news media of the convoys.

[@michaelwolfe9496]

A little context. This was basically a protest song. Back in the 70s the trucking industry was fighting back against a lot of government regulations that made it hard for independent drivers to make a living. 55 mph speed limit, maximum load size, fuel prices, etc. This song ended up being so popular, it was adapted into a movie of the same title.

[@roaenokesyzlak7828]

C.W is one of the best, if not the best singer/song writters and is a top notch story-tellers. Bear = Cop Smokie= Cop Chicken-Coop = Truck-stop/weigh station Hammer = Accelerator

[@TheGadgetwiz]

My father was a truck driver. I grew up on trucker music.

[@williammills8953]

Your face. Lmbo. My dad was a truck driver was a truck driver for 20 years. He would turn this on. And listen to this when he would drive. Mind you we didn't have much money growing up. I remember in my dad's truck. He had a lawn chair for a passenger seat. Anytime he would hit a bump I'd go flying. But this song definitely brings back memories. I miss my dad so much.

[@williameddy9919]

I loved 1976 especially when this song came out. Good memories and great lyrics! The good old CB radio craze of the seventies!

[@jamesanthony8438]

Well, I loved 1976 for the Bicentennial. That was a lot of patriotic fun... all year long! =)

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

My Grandpa was a trucker, and he had a CB. It gave them something to do on the road.

[@shelzieschulz2979]

@@jamesanthony8438 I was part of that too. I was just about to turn 6yrs old that year 🥰 There was a HUGE bicentennial parade and lunch iunch in town for everyone at the local park.

[@tessasnow]

I’m female born in ‘61. My handle was Two Timer. We used to do rabbit hunts. One carload of us was the rabbit and the other cats were the wolves. We all had cbs in our cars and were in constant communication with each other so you could hear the background where the rabbit was. First to find the rabbit was the next rabbit. Basically hide and seek with vehicles lol. Sure was a blast. Gosh I’ve gotten old.

[@georgiegirl6815]

"Bears" mean police. "Refer" was a refrigerated trailer. CBrs had our own language. I met my 1st husband over the CB.

[@MajahDancer]

10-4!!! I met my husband talking on the CB radio too . We were both in high school and all the kids would hang out on the same channel . It really was the chat room of the 70s . That was 42 years ago now and we're still together and very happy.

[@Squee_Dow]

And a cab-over is a truck that sits above the motor so that the front of the truck is flat. The conventional rig has the motor out front like almost all the other vehicles on the road.

[@silentknight9509]

Skateboard is a flatbed car haulers are parking lots lol

[@patrickpetrowsky8136]

Stagecoach are busses.

[@zooks527]

@@Squee_Dow "Cab over Pete" is a cab over Peterbuilt.

[@karenkyoungsc]

Loved the movie & this song. Had many family members who were or still are truck drivers. Because of them I know to never disrespect the power of a semi rolling. To any truck drivers out there I truly appreciate all you do to keep this country going.

[@deannerd8701]

Back in 1977, my family took a 2 week camping trip to the Rockies. We set up camp wherever my dad and mom liked. We listened to C.W. McCall on the trip. This brings back great childhood memories.

[@phoneguy7589]

This was a song I grew up listening to, and wanted a CB radio because of this lol thanks Ty! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@davebones6120]

Never thought of that as rapping - but you're right. Back in 1976, all the truckers were freaked out by the 55 mph speed limit. This came out of that. CW McCall put out a number of "songs" like this. If you want to try another - suggest Wolf Creek Pass. Completely accurate about the road.

[@trenae77]

Rapping as we know it actually came out of Beatnik poetry in the 40s and 50s ... Think Langston Hughes and his contemporaries. But the style of using spoken words to create depth and texture is so much older than this. Shakespeare gangsta style!

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

I always liked Black Bear Road. Used to sing it on the band bus in high school. Everybody hated me. 😎

[@craiglortie8483]

this was based on a real event that caused the u.s. dot to make the law forbiding convoys of more than 100 trucks.

[@unrulyjulie4382]

I went over Wolf Creek Pass this past January. Beautiful country!

[@flomurdock]

This is one of the great things about older music - anything that was singles based rather than albums - whatever was going on, someone would make a song about it, and could get it on the market while it was still timely.

[@jamieritter3873]

Oh my gracious! My husband was a trucker. This is one of his favorite songs. I think thee was also a movie named "Convoy" with Kris Kristofferson and a lot of truck/cop chases. All the guys will like this one because it's macho. The gals will like it because the movie has Kris Kristofferson. He was hot back in the day.

[@pdogone1]

tks to your husband! truckers make the country go! i worked in store business 20 yrs.. always let truckers know they were welcome and bought them a coffee...if they wanted to park the rig and sleep ..showed them where to park...

[@vtoon64]

CW McCall and Red Sovine were the OG Rappers

[@TheLemzia]

I LOVED this song so much, that I learned CB lingo and talked my Dad into a base station unit for my bedroom! I had a 50 foot Antenna sticking out my bedroom window LOL!!!

[@DrClawizdead]

As a dispatcher for an aviation company, this is my worst nightmare but a really great song!

[@AlanMDurham]

Great memories, thanks! Funny anecdote: my sister didn't realize that in order to say "Breaker One-Nine" you actually had to be on Channel 19!

[@edgarinabarrett7541]

I loved this when I was a kid. I think Smokey and the Bandit being such a popular movie (which featured big trucks) made CB Radios big.

[@edford1693]

The "Smokey Bears" he was referring to was CB slang for the state police along with "City Kitty" for the city officers and "County Mounty" for the county deputies. My dad had a CB in the car and pickup and would listen to it when we were travelling between Ft. Lee, VA and our hometown in Upper East TN in the late 70s. I still remember a few of the slang words and phrases.

[@annsteiger3531]

AWESOME memories!!!❤️Mom owned a truck stop when I was young. This song came out shortly after she sold the business. She said she'd have loved having this on the juke box.❤️❤️

[@usfreight]

I drove my first truck in 1971 and I'm still at it. I grew up when truckers were held in high esteem. This takes me back before cell phones, gps and a relationship between waitresses and truckers was like eating at home. The average tip for a meal which was about 80 cents was a dime.

[@RosiesCottageBlog]

Loved this song and love the movie even more. Such a great film too, Kris Kristofferson and Ernest Borgnine brought this brilliant wee song to life :-) If you haven't seen it, go watch the movie everybody. 1976 was a fabulous year and a fantastic summer, even Scotland had lots of lovely sunshine, hugs x

[@vickystanley8853]

This brings back the CB radio craze of 70s. It seemed like everybody had one in their personal vehicles and a colorful "handle" to go with it. They gave us some of the convenience of cell phones, but, SO much more fun.

[@TexasMagnolia]

This was huge! 70’s music, anything could go. CB radios were so popular...well, I guess it was the first cell phones. People had them in their house and would talk to trucker - develop friendships.

[@marylyles-adair9539]

Ty you're right!!!! That was rap if I ever heard it! Goes to show everything old is new again! You have a great ear for music, psychology, culture...the list goes on! You come close to crossing boundaries. But, you catch yourself.

[@calme-dx2dp]

We used to have a CB radio, and we had our own handles as kids, we knew all the lingo too.

[@richardsoutdoorworld5284]

The creator of this song went on to be the creator of the Christmas music of " Mannheim Steamroller" which has sold multi millions

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Wow! Didn't know that! 😮👍

[@Traci71769]

Favorite Christmas music❤❤

[@lelleithmurray235]

Wouldn't be Christmas music without Mannheim!

[@richardsoutdoorworld5284]

@@lelleithmurray235 the man Chip Davis is man behind both , this song and Mannheim , read about him here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Davis

[@richardsoutdoorworld5284]

@@Traci71769 The man is Chip Davis and you can read about him here , tells about this song and Mannheim en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Davis

[@gregoryblanchard6401]

Man I'm a 56-year-old white man every time I watch you you're funny you was looking at the back beat on that convoy song or the back vocals when I was funny I thought you was going to laugh at something else you funny man I love you

[@74Spirit1]

A movie was made, the sequel went around the world, and the police 🚔 wanted a piece.

[@jackpualder1522]

First 45 RPM II owned as a kid.....My dad was and still drives big rigs 85 years young and still delivering goods to you. The C.B. craze was huge back in the 70's and I know what all those terms meant. Brings back memories, Thanks

[@markcamp4698]

Dude you had me laughing out loud..... Also if you want a Good old story telling song listen to Big John by Jimmy Dean

[@jameskirschling7887]

OMG, I remember the CB craze, my friend Ray had one in his car. Yes, we used some of the jargon too. That's where this Rap song came from, I do believe Ty is correct. About 10 years ago when my son was 10 years old he loved this song and I had to listen to it whenever we were in the car. It got old fast because I didn't care much for it back in the day. Thanks for the memories.

[@cathyaudette1060]

LOL!!! Haven't heard this in years. This was during the CB Radio craze in the 70s. Good times!!

[@heathermclean-smith5893]

Great reaction and terrific insight! I never thought of this song as rapping, but you’re absolutely right!!

[@russallert]

This song, along with the TV show Movin' On (theme song by Merle Haggard), made CB radios popular back in the mid 70s. And as someone else commented, "bears" AKA Smokey or Smokey Bear referred to cops. There was a whole CB lingo that was a big deal back then. I think "10-4" (goodbye) still survives to some degree. "Breaker 1-9" was hello. 'What's your 20?" meant what's your location. My personal favourite was "pregnant rollerskate" (Volkswagen).

[@Leon-wz1js]

um... 10-4 meant "roger/understood" "breaker 1-9" was that you wanted to break into conversation on channel 19, but aside from that... yup

[@lisaredwine4857]

My favorite was hauling a load of potholes (empty) and a portable parking lot (hauling cars).

[@74Spirit1]

10-4 was message received.

[@fryerpj777888]

Interesting comments about rapping. Love this song and I loved the movie Convoy too. Brought back memories of another era. Guess I need to pull out my DVD of it and watch it again.

[@wendyblanco5263]

I loved this song as kid (still do😆). Even got my kids listening to it. I own the move too. I am a huge Kris Kristofferson fan-love his music too.

[@christyrowe4497]

There is a sequel called "Around the World with a Rubber Duck". "Wolf Creek Pass" is another great one by him. The movies Convoy, Smoky and the Bandit... there are a lot of 70s trucker movies that will make some of the trucker slang in this song make more sense to the younger audience. The bears in the song are the police. especially the state troopers out on the highway.

[@webbtrekker534]

They were called "Bears" because of the flat campaign hats they wear like "Smokey the Bear" (Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires) wears.

[@EarlJohn61]

"They even had a Bear in the air" flying in a Helicopter.

[@thehorrorfanx]

Brings back memories! A movie was later made based on this song. It came out around the same time as "Smokey and the Bandit" with Burt Reynolds. Both movies about fun, fast driving, and defying the cops. Innocent humor...at the time...

[@arealmench]

This song came out when CB radios were super popular in the mid 70's....It's a good story song with a good melody.

[@daveowens9849]

Big hit back in 76. Everybody had a cb in their vehicles. I had a cb in my Plymouth Roadrunner, and my handle was "Comic Book Kid". See avatar to your left, that's from '77. One of those songs that was responding to the cb radio craze. Fun days.

[@archyleach]

I actually think this song was a major influence on rap, since it was 1975. Black kids heard stuff like this and think I can do that over breaks too.

[@scarlettohara5030]

I had this song on 45 - CB's used to be a huge thing. My uncle had one and would talk to truckers all the time. Best line "11 long-haired friends of Jesus in chartreuse microbus"...lol

[@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER]

This song always stopped me in my tracks every time I heard it as a kid in the 70s and 80s.

[@nightcrawler1]

this tune been pushin me down the road for 33 years keep on keepin on yall

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

If you haven't already done so, please check out the reason this song was written, it's a great history lesson that highlights the real American spirit.

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

You aught to watch the full movie version of this song. It’s got action! I loved that movie back in the day! My brother-in-law and sister-in-law were extras in a movie with the lead actor from this movie (Kris Kristofferson) called “Blood and Orchids”. He was also in an episode of “Magnum, PI”.

[@sylvanaire]

This is the 2nd time I’ve watched a reaction to this song in the last month & both times it brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes. My dad really enjoyed this song & it brings him back to me some 45 years after he passed. 🥰 The lyrics paint a vivid picture in my mind of all those trucks driving almost coast to coast but I have to wonder, what was their plan when they hit the eastern seaboard?! Certainly the “bears” would be waiting for them when they finally had to stop to unload the trucks, lol. Oh well, it’s a fun song & shouldn’t be taken that seriously! 😅

[@Grass_77]

A lot of people do consider this to be one of the first rap songs, since it predates the beginning of the hip hop movement in the early 80's by almost a whole decade.

[@marypulley6512]

MRM, someone said it right ,it's older than dirt and I am the only thing that is older than dirt. It is time to laugh over PURE silliness and that is what this is. I remember when every man here in the south had a cb radio. I can't understand anything on the things, MRM,LOOKS like it is time for you to go to bed.

[@dmpo5450]

Stone Age Rapp. Jeeze I had a CB and an 8-Track back in those days.

[@ktasay]

Great song, and a fun movie as well! I remember it well seeing it in the theater with my dad.

[@jamiekendrick5057]

This came out when CB radios weren’t really popular. Truckers, of course, but also a whole lot of regular folk had them in their vehicles too. I remember my boss had one; he had polio as a young man and consequently walked with two crutches the rest of his life. The CB started out as a safety feature and ended up as a connection to a whole lot of new friends. .

[@chainsawlady]

i remember being in hgih school when this came out - it became a "thing" "fad" to have a cb radio so u could talk to the truckers

[@robertherbert3000]

I had a C.B. in my truck when I was in the military. When I would travel home for for vacations or long weekend I would use it to find out where the troopers were. Saved me from a boat load of tickets.

[@vaderjones357]

Great movie....great song...my little brother loved this...my gawd I heard it 976346896448 times a week...he wore that 45 out lol 🎶💜🎶💜🎶 I still know all the words after all these years lol now I want to watch the movie again. I love your reaction!!!! And omg the Rodney rendition.. That was hilarious...sorry but it was!

[@tomraum4172]

This movie was filmed between Az. and N.M. near Gallup N.M. i was 10 years old at the time and my late father (may he rest in peace) took me to watch the filming of this movie it was the best birthday present ever

[@johnbarraco5561]

Oh my goodness. I haven’t heard this one in a very very longtime .. a classic song from a the movie “convey “ .. old school country .. truckers anthem for decades ❤️🇺🇸.. a song with cool attitude

[@jamesanthony8438]

I was thinking about this song yesterday while heading to town. My favorite trucker song was "CB Savage" by Rod Hart. That one's a total classic. =)

[@shyman99]

Breaker breaker. Any takers?

[@jamesanthony8438]

@@shyman99 Any smokey bears out there? How 'bout some bare smokies?

[@bobbierobinson6269]

How about "Hello Shirley, This is Squirrelly"?

[@nickcox3497]

I have been listening to this song for a long time. You are correct that he is rapping in this song. Which is why I always liked it. I am kinda weird where I like country and rap music. Depending on the type of day I am having.

[@parkeydavid]

This was originally created for a commercial and it took off. It came out at the end of the CB craze when everyone had to have a CB.

[@jenniferrichard9644]

Omg! My dad’s handle was Coffee Cup, my mom’s was Gossip, and my uncle’s was Beehive. Memories!

[@Beatlefish]

I like story telling too. Story songs are awesome. Red Sovine Phantom 309

[@tiaelina1090]

Love his deep voice, never heard this before, enjoyed it. I loved that show “Beverley Hillbillies”. Great pick💕

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

There was a whole genre of CB/trucker songs in the 70s. Convoy, Kentucky Moonrunner, White Knight, Dad I Gotta Go, and sad ones like Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear's Last Ride, and tons of others....

[@silentknight9509]

Was a big song in my house in the 70's the whole family went to the old neponset drive in in Dorchester Massachusetts to see it 40 years later after my first retirement guess what I do now 😂🤣😂🤣

[@lorilxn1597]

I haven't heard this since I was a kid and my dad had a CB radio lol

[@bobbierobinson6269]

He wasn't a singer, but we all loved the song. My 11yr old loves the movie.

[@Squee_Dow]

This takes me back to those CB days of the 70s. Once my mother and I drove from Hotlanta to Shaky Town with stops in Space City and in Lost Wages. We were fortunate to get in some good convoys almost the entire trip. Those truckers really looked out for us and made sure we were safely in the rocking chair 95% of the time. They took good care of us and were respectful in their language. Then there was that time a couple of them talked about those 2 seat covers in the blue cutlass, not realizing that was us! We let them go on for a while before telling them. ;) BTW, we weren't wearing revealing clothing. Just shorts because it was summer. Once when we had the front door, we spotted a smokey on the other side of San Antone. We called back to the guys and gave them a heads-up about the smokey on the left near mile marker [whatever]. After a while, they radioed up to us and said they never saw that smokey but that they did see one near there on the right side. Just then Mother and I realized that our inability to tell right from left without a considerable amount concentration and figuring had caused the confusion. I told them he was on the left and she didn't even notice I got it wrong. (Yes, we both had that "condition," although I'm lightning fast with north, south, east and west.) I told them that I meant my other left, we all got a good laugh out of it, but they never let me take the front door after that!

[@robertvirtue8070]

Chip Davis wrote all the C W mcCall songs. He then went on to form Mannheim Steamroller which is famous Christmas Shows for the past 36 years. He also does Aire music. Convoy was written during the CB fad, everybody had CBs in their cars.

[@donjd5516]

CB trucker rap! Definite blast from the past. FUN!

[@lindanadeau1884]

Have always loved this song. Back when CB radios were the thing. My brother loved his.

[@1957Shep]

There were several country "singers" back in the 60s and 70s that didn`t actually sing. They just told stories set to music. Red Sovine was another one. CW Macall had several lesser known "songs" that were incredibly funny. "Classified", "CJ5 In 4 Wheel Drive", and "Wolf Creek Pass" are just 3 that come to mind.

[@anitaharris9095]

Love this song and always have. The the gravely sound of his voice.

[@donglass9072]

Once got stopped, with my driver, I was back up driver. But we were leading truck of more than, 40 trucks and they said it was for the convoy act.

[@CoughHiccup]

CB Radios (Citizen Band Radios) were all the rage in the 70's. It was kinda like live text messaging/chat room/mobile phone in the day...lol...my CB Handle (name) was Streaking Lizard....lol... you actually had to have a license to operate one back in the day.,,and yes, as someone mentioned, Chip Davis was one of the men behind C.W. Mccall.. who, in fact, was NOT a real person... it was one of the writers...Bill fries... they even made a movie of this song in 1978 with Kris Kristofferson

[@karenogle5385]

CBs were big back then. Coolest thing. My handle was Little White Dove from another country music song. My dad loved his CB.

[@wolfie5]

He was rapping - love it :)

[@lpeora]

Country Rap.. LOL. I love it!

[@pattytheseeker8902]

It was the 1970's we had an "oil gas shortage" Top speed on all highways was 55mph. Gas was outrageously expensive. Truckers couldn't get their loads delivered on time. The diesel was too high. They weren't making enough money to get by. CB radio was citizens band radio. Truckers had been using them for years. Then they became a new craze. Cars as well as trucks were joining convoys. The more the merrier. I was in a couple of them that were miles & miles long. Nobody was getting stopped by the bears!!! Everybody was speeding! The bears were the police. A married woman down the street had 2 handles/names on CB radio. Her husband was a trucker. She'd get on her CB & flirt with other men. She would invite them over to look at her CB radio & tell them it was under her bed😂😂😂😂

[@alanjones6387]

You want to hear old school country rap? Try Hank now performing "I've been everywhere".

[@unrulyjulie4382]

Hank Snow

[@julieschultz6363]

I remember hearing this on the radio when I was a little girl and for some stupid reason, I'd (still do) get all teary at the end when he said "...let them truckers roll--10-4!"

[@bign8580]

Even before that in the cowboy days .... It was called Square dancing ....

[@helenholmar8506]

Soundtrack to the movie of the same name. So many memories of this x

[@kevinswinyer3176]

I never really thought of him as Rapping out Convoy, but you are right, he was rapping Country Style.

[@MRM-Red]

One of my hubbys fav songs as a kid.

[@nickstrickland4751]

After this song not just truckers had a cb radio, the whole country bought them I mean it was a phenomenon. The convoys, I think, started during the teamsters going on strike, they were throwing objects onto the Semis above the overpasses and the non Union truckers had enough of it and started convoying

[@McFlySwatter]

@ModernRenaissanceMan Lol crazy to think this was #1 in 1976, I remember it well. His rapping cadence you were imitating reminds me a lot of Rapper's Delight but this was 3 years before the Sugar Hill Gang released that. "See, I am Wonder Mike, and I'd like to say hello, To the black, to the white, the red and the brown, the purple and yellow..." 🙂

[@barbarawissinger]

Being from NW Indiana, the convoy would have collapsed once it headed East out of Chi-town, based on the dreadful condition of 1-80/90/94. My mom had a CB in the 70s, when she drove to Tennessee several times a year.

[@douglaspalmer9678]

the wild thing is that this is the same guy responsible for mannheim steamroller. check them out!

[@Squee_Dow]

Y'all, I LOL'd when he sang the Rodney King version of Beverly Hillbillies. Doesn't make me a bad person, though there may be some who are triggered by that. Actually, I started laughing the instant he started pointing out that "Convoy" was rapping. Great reaction vid, Ty!

[@RoryVanucchi]

Fun song for long drives. CB radio days

[@thewickedchicken82]

After this song came out in 1975 CB radios became a big thing. There was a culture built around it that I thought was kind of silly. However,m when I had to drive from San Diego to Norfolk VA, I bought a CB. It came in handy. Whenever a trucker spotted a cop on the freeway he would announce on his radio where it was by the mile marker. That way you could haul ass without getting caught.

[@Mftjan2000]

Your Rodney King song was great. Terrible incident....but l loved when he said "Can't we all just get along."

[@chuckross6139]

He made a sequel called 'round the wild in a rubber duck' that was pretty funny. You might also like his other song called 'wolf Creek pass'

[@flomurdock]

Wof Creek Pass is the funniest one

[@Divhreaza]

I grew up listening to this guy's music! (Okay, as a kid I'd thought they meant literal bears too. But I came to find out that it was a term for State Troopers, also sometimes called "Smokey's" because the hats they wore looked a lot like the one Smokey the Bear is famous for.) There's a LOT of trucker lingo in this song, and several others of his. Some other great ones by him are "Wolf Creek Pass", "Black Bear Road", "Classified", and "Four Wheel Drive".

[@Bikebrh]

Talking over music probably goes back at least 100 years. It was called "talking blues" before hip hop took over. It was a popular type of folk music. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Leadbelly and others did talking blues songs.

[@michaelmelton7951]

This song spawned the movie "Convoy". Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, Ernestine Borgnine, and Burt Young. Fun watch.

[@chab1rd155]

A blast from the past!!! Hahaaahaaaa!!!

[@MommaBird52]

Your little duh duh duhduh made me laugh, especially when you went deep!

[@mattbecham8795]

that sounded sexual.