Behind The Song - "Ballad of Gerald and Joe"
- Sheri and Bill Eppright
- Sep 18, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 17, 2024
This song oozes positivity in word, melody and sound. Our drummer, Larry Blewitt, really took the song to heart and nailed the drums and percussion!
Song Inspiration…
Sheri: During our first few years together, Bill and I carved out enough time to take a few dance lessons. After all, we met at a ballroom dance class, so we both felt dance should continue as part of our journey together. Upon leaving one of our dance classes, we saw a man in the parking lot checking out the signage on our Tune Buggy.
We went up to the man and introduced ourselves and he told us his name was Gerald. We exchanged business cards. As he was standing next to his truck, a big red truck that “Joe’s Hauling” on the side of it. Curious, I asked him why his truck said, “Joe’s Hauling.” He laughed and explained that when he bought the truck years back, the previous owner had just put new signage on the truck. And since he couldn’t afford to redo it, he just decided to call himself “Joe”, and it stuck – most folks including family call him Joe many years later.
We kept Gerald’s business card. In fact, I placed it on a prominent place next to my computer, where it sat within my vision for at least two full years, waiting for the song. The wait was worth it: the song finally bubbled up inside me, with its storyline of learning to adapt in life.
We enjoy telling the “story behind the song” to audiences and are inspired each time we perform it, reminded of the clever adaptability of the folks around us. I took creative liberty in the song of calling the truck a tow truck instead of a hauling truck, but we don’t think “Joe” minds! Our “Ballad of Gerald and Joe” song video on our Sheri & Bill YouTube channel has had over 2,000 hits, so we’re pretty sure others enjoy it to.
Creative Team:
During the summer of 2019, this was one of seven original songs we recorded for our upcoming “Connections” album. Working in collaboration with our Producer Rob Kuhlman of Root Cellar Music Studio, we recorded this song with Michael Levine at Studio Baba , who was also our Sound Engineer. The rest of our team included drummer/percussionist Larry Blewitt, Sheri on Keys and Lead Vocals, Bill on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, and Rob Kuhlman on Bass. We released this song on our album “Connections” Oct 2019.
Click here to watch “Ballad of Gerald and Joe” song video!
Ballad of Gerald And Joe
Out for some fun on a bright summer day
Stopped at a store on the way.
Back to our car near the end of the lot
A truck pulled in the next spot.
Driver climbed out, with a wave and a “hey!”
He smiled as he started to say,
“I see from your sign, that music’s your game…
I’m a trucker, and Gerald’s my name.”
“Sign on my truck says “Joe” by the way,
I know what you’re both gonna say:
‘Why is Gerald my name when my sign here says “Joe”?
It happened a few years ago.
Business was new, a stroke of good luck,
Found a great deal on the truck.
Sign on the door said “Call Joe for a Tow” …
Made sense to go with the flow!”
That truck was mine -- too good to be true!
From now on, both “Gerald” AND “Joe” will do!
Good to adapt, we both learned that day,
Whatever comes your way.
Might find in time, like our friend Gerald knows
Your name can be both…Gerald AND Joe!
Haven’t seen him again since we parted that day
Seen several trucks on our way
With that very same sign “Call Joe for a Tow”
We’re sure that he’s doing fine.
Still, we think about him, wonder where he’s at,
Such a simple encounter was that.
But we learned a lot on our journey towards fame…
From a trucker with more than one name!
Good to adapt, we both learned that day
Whatever comes your way.
Might find in time, like our friend Gerald knows
Your name can be both…Gerald AND Joe!
Copyright © 2019 Music and Lyrics by Sheryl Eppright
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