Girl on the Billboard
Encyclopedia
"Girl on the Billboard" is a 1965 single released by American country music singer Del Reeves
. The novelty song was Reeves' fourth entry on the U.S. country chart and his only No. 1 single. "Girl on the Billboard" spent two weeks at No. 1 and a total of 20 weeks on the chart, in addition to reaching No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100
and has become one of many country standards about lust
.
advertisement along U.S. Highway 66. The driver, who drives a daily freight route from Chicago to St. Louis along the highway where the billboard is located, begins fantasizing about having a relationship with the woman. He also takes note at how many traffic accidents have occurred near the billboard (supposedly due to motorists becoming distracted
by the billboard).
One afternoon, the trucker drives by the billboard to find the advertisement featuring the woman being replaced. Distressed, the man stops and confronts the painter (who is just finishing his work) in hopes of an explanation. The painter curtly tells the trucker that the "girl wasn't real" and that he'd "better get the (censored) on his way." (An electric guitar riff is used in place of the profanity
). Disillusioned at his fantasy being ruined, the trucker moans that along the highway, "You'll find tiny pieces of my heart scattered every which a way."
recorded a cover version
on its debut album
. It was later released in the U.S., peaking at No. 54 in 2008.
Del Reeves
Franklin Delano Reeves , better known as Del Reeves, was an American country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell"...
. The novelty song was Reeves' fourth entry on the U.S. country chart and his only No. 1 single. "Girl on the Billboard" spent two weeks at No. 1 and a total of 20 weeks on the chart, in addition to reaching No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and has become one of many country standards about lust
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
.
The Song's Story
The song is about a truck driver who falls in love with a picture of a beautiful young woman, whose scantilly clad likeness is plastered as part of a roadside billboardBillboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
advertisement along U.S. Highway 66. The driver, who drives a daily freight route from Chicago to St. Louis along the highway where the billboard is located, begins fantasizing about having a relationship with the woman. He also takes note at how many traffic accidents have occurred near the billboard (supposedly due to motorists becoming distracted
Distracted driving
Distracted driving, a replacement phrase for the more popular terms "texting while driving" and "talking while driving," is what occurs when a driver has something other than driving on his mind. Driving becomes subsequent in importance to another activity that is happening inside the car, truck...
by the billboard).
One afternoon, the trucker drives by the billboard to find the advertisement featuring the woman being replaced. Distressed, the man stops and confronts the painter (who is just finishing his work) in hopes of an explanation. The painter curtly tells the trucker that the "girl wasn't real" and that he'd "better get the (censored) on his way." (An electric guitar riff is used in place of the profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
). Disillusioned at his fantasy being ruined, the trucker moans that along the highway, "You'll find tiny pieces of my heart scattered every which a way."
Cover versions
In 2006, Canadian band The Road HammersThe Road Hammers
The Road Hammers was a Canadian Country music group composed of Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy and Chris Byrne. Formed by McCoy as a side project, the trio's music is influenced by 1960s and 1970s trucker music and Southern rock. Their first self-titled album included remakes of several classic...
recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
on its debut album
The Road Hammers (album)
The Road Hammers is the debut album of The Road Hammers, a Canadian-based country rock band fronted by singer Jason McCoy. Released in 2005 on Open Road Recordings, it produced the singles "I'm a Road Hammer", "East Bound and Down" , "Nashville Bound" and "Girl on the Billboard"...
. It was later released in the U.S., peaking at No. 54 in 2008.
Del Reeves
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 96 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 31 |
The Road Hammers
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 54 |