Six Days on the Road - wikipedia Six Days on the Road `` Six Days on the Road '' Single by Dave Dudley from the album Songs About the Working Man Released May 1963 ( U.S. ) Format 7 '' Recorded March 1963 Kay Bank Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota Genre Country Length 2 : 24 Label Golden Wing 3020 Songwriter ( s ) Earl Green and Carl Montgomery Producer ( s ) Shelby Singleton Dave Dudley singles chronology `` Under the Cover of the Night '' ( 1962 ) `` Six Days on the Road '' ( 1963 ) `` Cowboy Boots '' ( 1963 ) `` Under the Cover of the Night '' ( 1962 ) `` Six Days on the Road '' ( 1969 ) `` Cowboy Boots '' ( 1963 ) `` Six Days on the Road '' is an American song written by Earl Green and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio songwriter Carl Montgomery, made famous by country music singer Dave Dudley. The song was initially recorded by Paul Davis ( not to be confused with singer - songwriter Paul Davis ) and was released in 1961 on the Bulletin label. In 1963, the song became a major hit when released by Dave Dudley and is often hailed as the definitive celebration of the American truck driver. In 1997, more than 30 years after Dudley 's original version charted, country music band Sawyer Brown took the song into the Top 15 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Contents 1 Dave Dudley version 1.1 Chart performance 2 Sawyer Brown version 2.1 Chart performance 2.2 Year - end charts 3 Other versions 4 `` Six Tons of Toys '' 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links Dave Dudley version According to country music historian Bill Malone, `` Six Days on the Road '' was not the first truck driving song ; Malone credits `` Truck Driver 's Blues '' by Cliff Bruner, released in 1940, with that distinction. `` Nor is it necessarily the best, '' said Malone, citing songs such as `` Truck Drivin ' Man '' by Terry Fell and `` White Line Fever '' by Merle Haggard and the Strangers as songs that `` would certainly rival it ''. However, `` Six Days '', Malone continued, `` set off a vogue for such songs '' that continued for many years. `` The trucking songs coincided with country music 's growing identification as working man 's music in the 1960s, '' he said. Many country music artists and bands -- including Alabama, Dick Curless, Merle Haggard, Kathy Mattea, Ronnie Milsap, The Howboy Catts, Jerry Reed, Del Reeves, Dan Seals, Red Simpson, Red Sovine, Joe Stampley, C.W. McCall, Steve Earle, among many others -- recorded successful truck driving songs during the next 25 years. Several of those artists -- Dudley included -- became almost exclusively associated with songs about truck drivers and life on the road. Dudley `` strikingly captures the sense of boredom, danger and swaggering masculinity that often accompanies long - distance truck driving. His macho interpretation, with its rock - and - roll overtones, is perfect for the song. '' Allmusic writer Bill Dahl, called `` Six Days '' the `` ultimate overworked rig driver 's lament ; '' indeed, the song 's lyrics bemoan highway patrolmen, scale weigh - ins and loneliness for the narrator 's girlfriend, and speak of using `` little white pills '' to keep him awake. Like Malone, Dahl also cited Dudley 's voice as perfect for the song, as `` his bottomless pipes were certainly the ultimate vehicle for its delivery, reeking of too much turbid coffee and too many non-filtered cigarettes. '' Dudley 's version was also played during the STS - 3 mission as a wake - up call. Chart performance Released in mid-May 1963, `` Six Days on the Road '' became Dudley 's first major hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that summer. The record spent 21 weeks on this chart, and it also became a minor hit on Top 40 radio stations, peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also listed at number 13 on their easy listening survey. Many truck - driving themed hits followed for Dudley, including `` Last Day in the Mines, '' `` Truck Drivin ' Son - of - a-Gun '' and `` Truck Driver 's Prayer. '' Chart ( 1963 ) Peak position US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 13 US Billboard Hot 100 32 Sawyer Brown version `` Six Days on the Road '' Single by Sawyer Brown from the album Six Days on the Road Released Genre Country Length 2 : 53 Label Curb Songwriter ( s ) Earl Green and Carl Montgomery Producer ( s ) Mark Miller, Mac McAnally Sawyer Brown singles chronology `` She 's Gettin ' There '' ( 1996 ) `` Six Days on the Road '' ( 1997 ) `` This Night Wo n't Last Forever '' ( 1997 ) `` She 's Gettin ' There '' ( 1996 ) `` Six Days on the Road '' ( 1997 ) `` This Night Wo n't Last Forever '' ( 1997 ) Sawyer Brown included the song on their 1997 album Six Days on the Road. Their version peaked at No. 13 on the country charts that year. They changed the line `` I 'm taking little white pills '' to `` I 'm passing little white lines '', thus omitting the drug reference. Chart performance Chart ( 1997 ) Peak position Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) 9 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) 17 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 13 Year - end charts Chart ( 1997 ) Position Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) 87 Other versions Many other versions of `` Six Days on the Road '' have been recorded, with three of them also being chart hits for other artists. Johnny Rivers took his remake to No. 58 on the country charts and No. 105 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Steve Earle recorded the song for the 1987 movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and his version reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in early 1988. Others who have recorded `` Six Days '' include Charley Pride, Del Reeves, George Jones, Red Simpson, Nev Nicholls, Ferlin Husky, Boxcar Willie, Wolfman Jack, Motorpsycho, Red Sovine, Jim Croce, George Thorogood, the Flying Burrito Brothers, who are shown performing the song live in the movie, `` Gimme Shelter '', as well as Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels, aka The Turkeys, blues guitarist Popa Chubby ( for his 2008 album Vicious Country ), New Riders of the Purple Sage and Tom Petty 's band Mudcrutch. According to Dahl, one of the best versions was a blues - rocking rendition recorded in 1969 by Taj Mahal. Even a French version was made by Claude François : Six jours sûr la route. The Youngbloods performed it during a 1971 concert in San Francisco. Sawyer Brown also Recorded it and it appears on their 1997 album of the same name David Allan Coe also recorded it and it appears on his 1994 compilation `` 20 Greatest Hits ''. Adam Brand and the Outlaws covered the song on the 2016 album Adam Brand and the Outlaws. String Cheese Incident has done it at least three times, most notably, at the Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, MI featuring Jason Carter, Rob McCoury and Ronnie McCoury of The Travelin ' McCoury 's and the Del McCoury Band. `` Six Tons of Toys '' Dudley recorded a re-written Christmas version entitled `` Six Tons of Toys '' on his 1982 album Trucker 's Christmas. This was covered by Paul Brandt on his 1997 album A Paul Brandt Christmas : Shall I Play for You ?. References ^ Jump up to : ( 1 ) Dahl, Bill, `` Six Days on the Road '' at Allmusic ^ Jump up to : Malone, Bill, `` The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Country Music '' ( ( booklet included with The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Country Music 8 - volume set ). Smithsonian Institution, 1981 ). Jump up ^ `` Dave Dudley Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Dave Dudley Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Dave Dudley Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Country Tracks : Issue 3228. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 9, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Sawyer Brown Chart History ( Bubbling Under Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sawyer Brown Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997 ''. RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Trucker 's Christmas ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 08. Further reading Whitburn, Joel, `` Top Country Songs : 1944 - 2005, '' 2006. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Trucking industry in the United States Regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Economy of the United States Regulations Commercial driver 's license Hours of service Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula Electronic on - board recorder Motor carrier safety rating Motor Carrier Act of 1980 International Registration Plan National Network Manufacturers Truck manufacturers AM General American LaFrance Autocar Bering Bremach Brockway Chevrolet CCC Caterpillar CNH Industrial Diamond Reo Dina F650 Pickups Freightliner Ford GMC Hayes Hino Isuzu Marmon - Herrington Mercedes - Benz International Kenworth Mack Mitsubishi Fuso Nissan Oshkosh Peterbilt Ram Trucks Sterling Smith Tesla Spartan Tiger Truck Toyota UD Trucks VIA Volvo Ward LaFrance Western Star White Workhorse Group Engine manufacturers Caterpillar Cummins Detroit Diesel Mack MaxxForce Mercedes - Benz Paccar Volvo Trailer manufacturers Fontaine Fruehauf Trailer Corporation Great Dane Hyundai Translead Lufkin Trailers Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company Vanguard Wabash National Wilson Motor carriers Truckload carriers Averitt Express Celadon Covenant England CRST FFE Transportation J.B. Hunt Knight Landstar System PAM Transport Patriot Transportation Roehl Transport Schneider Swift USA Truck Werner WTI Transport, Inc. Less than truckload ( LTL ) ABF Averitt Express Estes Express Lines FedEx Freight New England Motor Freight Old Dominion Freight Line Pitt Ohio Express R + L Carriers Saia Southeastern UPS Freight XPO Logistics YRCW Third - party logistics providers Access America Transport C.H. Robinson Worldwide CaseStack Freightquote Ryder Total Quality Logistics XPO Logistics National parcel carriers DHL Express FedEx UPS United States Postal Service Regional parcel carriers LaserShip OnTrac Moving companies Allied Atlas Bekins Gentle Giant Moving Company Global Interstate Mayflower National North American PODS Shleppers Moving & Storage Two Men and a Truck United Wheaton Truck stops Bowlin Travel Centers Dixie Travel Plaza Iowa 80 Love 's Pilot Flying J Road Ranger Roady 's T / A & Petro Town Pump People Reginald Denny Jimmy Hoffa Fred Smith John B. Hunt Kelly Reno Iyman Faris Larry Walters Keith Jesperson Organizations International Brotherhood of Teamsters Owner -- Operator Independent Drivers Association DAT Solutions ( Dial - A-Truck ) American Trucking Associations National Motor Freight Traffic Association National Private Truck Council FJ Management SmartWay Transport Partnership American Moving & Storage Association Glossary Glossary of the American trucking industry Popular culture Film Black Dog Breakdown Convoy Duel F.I.S.T. The Gang 's All Here Joy Ride Maximum Overdrive Over The Top Smokey and the Bandit ( series ) They Drive by Night White Line Fever Trucker Television B.J. and the Bear Ice Road Truckers Movin ' On Trick My Truck American Loggers American Trucker Music `` Convoy '' `` Papa Loved Mama '' `` Six Days on the Road '' `` Teddy Bear '' `` Phantom 309 '' `` Giddyup Go '' `` The White Knight '' `` East Bound and Down '' `` Roll On ( Eighteen Wheeler ) '' `` Drivin ' My Life Away '' `` Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses '' `` Girl on the Billboard '' `` A Tombstone Every Mile '' `` Roll On Big Mama '' `` Movin ' On '' `` Big Wheels in the Moonlight '' `` Bonnie Jean ( Little Sister ) '' Radio Road Dog Trucking ( Dave Nemo ) Red Eye ( Bill Mack ) Dale Sommers Other The Rolling Memorial Citizens band radio Note : Defunct companies are shown in italics Johnny Rivers Live albums At the Whisky à Go Go Here We à Go Go Again ! In Action Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go... And I Know You Wanna Dance Songs `` Memphis '' `` Maybellene '' `` Mountain of Love '' `` Midnight Special '' `` The Seventh Son '' `` Where Have All the Flowers Gone ? '' `` Secret Agent Man '' `` ( I Washed My Hands In ) Muddy Water '' `` Poor Side of Town '' `` Baby I Need Your Lovin ' '' `` The Tracks of My Tears '' `` Summer Rain '' `` Into the Mystic '' `` Fire and Rain '' `` Sea Cruise '' `` Rockin ' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu '' `` Blue Suede Shoes '' `` Six Days on the Road '' `` Help Me, Rhonda '' `` Swayin ' to the Music ( Slow Dancing ) '' `` Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um '' Related articles Discography Steve Earle Studio albums Guitar Town Exit 0 Copperhead Road The Hard Way Train a Comin ' I Feel Alright El Corazón The Mountain ( with the Del McCoury Band ) Transcendental Blues Jerusalem The Revolution Starts Now Washington Square Serenade Townes I 'll Never Get Out of This World Alive The Low Highway Terraplane Colvin & Earle ( with Shawn Colvin ) So You Wanna Be An Outlaw Compilation albums Early Tracks Essential Steve Earle Ai n't Ever Satisfied : The Steve Earle Collection The Devil 's Right Hand : An Introduction to Steve Earle Side Tracks 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection : The Best of Steve Earle Live albums Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert Together at the Bluebird Café ( with Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt ) Just an American Boy Live from Austin, TX Live at Montreux 2005 Notable singles `` What 'll You Do About Me '' `` A Little Bit in Love '' `` Hillbilly Highway '' `` Guitar Town '' `` Someday '' `` Goodbye 's All We 've Got Left '' `` Nowhere Road '' `` Sweet Little ' 66 '' `` Copperhead Road '' `` Six Days on the Road '' Related articles Discography E-Squared Records The Steve Earle Show Justin Townes Earle Stacey Earle `` When You Fall in Love '' `` Sometimes She Forgets '' Sawyer Brown Studio albums Sawyer Brown Shakin ' Out Goin ' Cattin ' Somewhere in the Night Wide Open The Boys Are Back Buick The Dirt Road Cafe on the Corner Outskirts of Town This Thing Called Wantin ' and Havin ' It All Six Days on the Road Hallelujah, He Is Born Drive Me Wild Can You Hear Me Now Mission Temple Fireworks Stand Travelin ' Band Compilation albums Greatest Hits Greatest Hits 1990 - 1995 The Hits Live True Believer Best of Sawyer Brown Notable singles `` Leona '' `` Step That Step '' `` Used to Blue '' `` Betty 's Bein ' Bad '' `` Heart Do n't Fall Now '' `` Shakin ' '' `` Out Goin ' Cattin ' '' `` Gypsies on Parade '' `` Somewhere in the Night '' `` This Missin ' You Heart of Mine '' `` Old Photographs '' `` My Baby 's Gone '' `` The Race Is On '' `` Did It for Love '' `` Puttin ' the Dark Back into the Night '' `` When Love Comes Callin ' '' `` The Walk '' `` The Dirt Road '' `` Some Girls Do '' `` Cafe on the Corner '' `` All These Years '' `` Trouble on the Line '' `` Thank God for You '' `` The Boys and Me '' `` Outskirts of Town '' `` Hard to Say '' `` This Time '' `` I Do n't Believe in Goodbye '' `` ( This Thing Called ) Wantin ' and Havin ' It All '' `` ' Round Here '' `` Treat Her Right '' `` Six Days on the Road '' `` This Night Wo n't Last Forever '' `` Drive Me Wild '' `` 800 Pound Jesus '' `` Lookin ' for Love '' `` They Do n't Understand '' Related articles Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Six_Days_on_the_Road&oldid=854521611 '' Categories : 1961 songs 1963 singles 1987 singles 1997 singles Dave Dudley songs Sawyer Brown songs Steve Earle songs Johnny Rivers songs George Thorogood songs Jim Croce songs Music videos directed by Michael Salomon Six - day events Songs about automobiles Songs about labor Songs about truck driving Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2012 Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Canadacountry Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for Billboardbubbling100 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Norsk Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 11 August 2018, at 23 : 59 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sang six days on the road first
Answer: Paul Davis