Today’s post was written by Paul.
One of the best received train songs last November came from the repertoire of Stonewall Jackson, so I thought I would start this year’s story song series with a story song from him.
This is a song that Tipper and I used to listen to as kids. We always liked it, even though it made us sad. Sometimes, our friends the Malpass Brothers perform this song. This is one of those songs that proves you can have a great melody with only two chords.
Naturally, I had to do a little research before uploading, to see what I could find out about this song. Of course, I wondered if it might tell a true story. I assumed that Jackson wrote it. It somehow sounds a little like the song he sang about Herman Swartz. However, it turns out that “BJ the DJ” wasn’t written by Jackson but was written by Hugh X. Lewis.
Anyone who reads all of the descriptions that I write for our uploads is probably noticing some crazy irony right here: In the very last upload that I did on this channel, I commented that once upon a time, I thought Hugh X. Lewis wrote the song “Too Late,” which Pap and I sang. What a crazy coincidence that one week later I would find out that Lewis wrote a song I had heard all my life and never connected to him.
Lewis wasn’t all that famous, but he wrote one of my favorite songs of all time: “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day to Cry.” You can find me singing it with Pap here.
Anyway, according to Wikipedia, “BJ the DJ” is indeed a true story, written about a DJ that Lewis knew who burned the candle at both ends too much, driving fast to get to his various jobs and living with sleep deprivation, until it caught up to him in a fatal crash. His name/handle was apparently BJ the DJ Johnson, and just as in the song, his mother admonished him both about his lack of sleep and about his poorly maintained vehicle.
One reason I always liked this song is because the mother in the song reminds me so much of my own mother (Granny). Even though I’m 50 years old, she still wants me to call her when I arrive wherever I’m going and to call her again when I leave that location to head home. When I was young, that bugged me, and I refused to comply. Now, I don’t mind, and I know that it comes from her great love. It only takes a couple of minutes to set her mind at ease, so why not do it?
Unfortunately, I can also identify with BJ’s fast driving, especially when I was in my college years, and I’m thankful that I am here today and that I now have enough sense to know that it isn’t worth it to risk my life or the lives of others just to get somewhere on time for something that isn’t all that important to begin with (like for instance, spinning records).
I appreciate Corie and Tipper helping me with this song. I didn’t sing or play as loudly as I should have in this video, so I placed the lyrics below. I got the bright idea of doing the door knock on my guitar for dramatic effect in this song, but I botched it.
“BJ the DJ“
A story ’bout a pal of mine, Who worked down near the Georgia line, As DJ in a little country station. Everybody loved him dear, For he played what they liked to hear. He built himself up quite a reputation.
At record hops, he’d stay out late, And his mom would always wait To see if he had made it home alright. She warned against his loss of sleep, Driving fast in that old heap, And that he had to be at work by five.
BJ the DJ, you’re livin’ much too fast, And if you don’t change your ways, Don’t see how you can last.
Every morning, just past four, From the driveway he would roar, Overslept and he was late again, Then at break-neck speed he’d drive To sign the station on at five. He had lots of records he must spin.
His mom would sit by the radio Till his voice told her hello. She knew then that he’d made there alright, Then she’d say a little prayer That he’d be safe while he was there, Then she’d wait up for him again that night.
Then one cold and rainy morn, All four tires were badly worn. Still, he scratched off just as fast this time. BJ had a lot of nerve, But he completely missed the curve, And he signed off down near the Georgia line.
His mom sat by the radio. The voice she heard, she did not know. BJ’d never been this late before, But with the road so bad and all, She’d wait a while before she’d call, Then she heard the knock upon the door.
BJ the DJ, only 24. A wreck at 90 mph, He’ll spin the hits no more.
I know at least one more story song that Stonewall recorded, and I may include it in this year’s series too. Hope you enjoyed this first installment, and thanks for watching!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
I would love for Paul to sing Glory Land Way again on Celebrating
Paul, I remember the song Bj the Dj from years ago, sad song, but I have never heard Tomorrow’s Just Another Day to Cry. I enjoyed hearing you sing and play both songs. Paul, thank you for the write up today. I enjoyed it very much. God bless all the Wilson and Pressley families.
I had never heard “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day to Cry.”before, and I absolutely love it!!! I would love to have a CD with nothing but songs like this on it. 🙂
First time hearing this one but I love a song that tells a story!
Paul, I really liked the song but it is so sad
Thank you for the the background information of B.J. the D. J. Hilary H.
Thank you for the time and effort that you put into the history/background of each song. You have a great voice and musical talent. Thank you for sharing it.
That whole Stonewall Jackson album was great. I use to play it while I cleaned house on Saturday morning.
There use to be Saturday Night Live in WBIE in Smyrna GA and Jim would play songs like this and old time country music.
Love your singing Paul.
I enjoyed the song, even though it’s a sad one for sure. Paul, you did a wonderful job as you always do. I also am like Granny. I want to know that my family gets to where they are going, and that they got there safe. It sure does ease my mind too. Thanks for sharing this song and for the story about it. Have a blessed Sunday!
Thank you, Paul! I am going to really enjoy this new series that you are putting together this year. I like it when the words of a song are included. My speakers on my computer are not the best & sometimes I don’t understand all the words being said (sung). Love the back stories of the songs you play. Hugs!
Love this song!!!!!
Remember hearing Stonewall Jackson sing this song. Paul did a wonderful job, still to this day brought tears to my eyes.
You are right…that is a sad song. Of course, I am listening to it from the mothers point of view—we worry all the time. I am the only one of my siblings that live close to our parents, so my mama usually knows when I am coming and going. When I leave their apartment to come home, she will always say, “let me know when you get there.” I am 63 years old—but like Paul said, it doesn’t hurt to let her know and ease her mind. I always enjoy listening to your music.
Happy Sunday! Wonderful song.
Paul, you have a beautiful voice!! Sad song but you always sing beautiful and you really are a treasure to the girls and your whole family. God bless ya all and have a great week. I’ve got to get to church and the sun is shining and may get up to 60 degrees here today in SC PA.
Hugh X. Lewis had a band in Printer’S Alley mid-70’s when I was there with Acuff-Rose.
Back in the ‘early ‘80’s, I had several disc jockey friends and sometimes I would just go sit and hang out with them at the radio station. It was lots of fun and there was always gossip about the local celebrities. Sometimes we would ride to Roanoke radio stations and meet the dj’s at K92 I think it was. It was fun, but it’s all changed now. I stay as far from any public event as possible… lol this song was sad, but burning the candle at both ends NEVER works out. I’m the slow driver and the one you probably shake a fist at as you’re flying down the road. I might add I’ve seen some fatal wrecks and those have mainly been in GA- coincidentally. You know the canvases and tarps blocking crash scenes and you know it’s just terrible… slow down, take a breath and look to see what’s happening on the big road. It’s always a good idea. Happy Sunday to all, but ESPECIALLY granny and the twin moms!!!
Thanks Paul. I really enjoyed the song and back story.
I enjoyed this so much! Thank mmm you for the story and great picking’ and playing! Singing too!
God bless you and yours❤❤
I remember this song and have always liked it. My comment has more to do with a paragraph Paul wrote about Granny worrying about him having a wreck. My oldest Grandson was pretty much raised in my home. He now works a job on a 12 hour night/graveyard shift and has to drive through one of the most dangerous areas near Greenville, SC. I am constantly looking at the traffic radar to see if there are any wrecks on the route he drives during the time he will be traveling. Right now as I write this there is 6 car wreck and at least 2 dead at the exit he would be taking. It is not him, it happen during the night while he was working, I am sure he does not understand. After loosing my daughter and wife (his mother and grandmother), I couldn’t stand something happening to him. He is 24 years old and works another job on his day off from his nighttime job.
enjoyed the song and the info you gave about it….I am 68 and remember the song well….as a matter of fact it wasnt too many weeks ago it popped into my mind out of the blew and I instantly started singing it…I made a mental note to look it up online as I did not remember who sang it or all the words–but my brain fails me quite often so I forgot to do the intended research…thank you for ‘reading my mind’ and giving me all the information I intended to find
Oh my goodness what a song. I did not know Jackson wrote that one. My hubby met him in the late 90’s. I stayed in our hotel room and missed that chance. Tipper I am sure I have said before about your wonderful talented family, but if he hasn’t recorded this one, Paul needs to. Such a clean tone and clear strings. Prayers for Granny and hugs and that goes for all your family.