Jerry Reed – East Bound and Down

Song written by Jerry Reed and Dick Feller, and produced by Jerry himself, was recorded in August 1977, for the RCA label, the song counts as lead vocal with Jerry Reed and vocalist Gordon Stoker of the Jordanaires in vocal harmony. The song was 16 weeks on the list, reaching the number two position. It was included in the album of East Bound and Down (RCA 1977) and the soundtrack of Smokey and the Bandit (MCA 1977). A luxury soundtrack , where Burt Reynolds himself also sings.

The song was part of the soundtrack of the film, Smokey and the Bandit, Jerry apart from singing the main theme, he acts in the movie, like Cledus Snow, with Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. If there was ever a song from a movie soundtrack that told the story of the movie in just a few verses, it was “Eastbound and Down” The song told the story of transporting illegal beer through state lines and, what is worse, breaking the speed limits during the journey. The movie was a blockbuster in 1977

The “… and below” in the title and the lyrics is the CB radio jargon for “I’ve finished transmitting, but I’m still listening to the channel.” “[Direction] limit and below” remains a common signature for truckers on CB radio.

Jerry Reed – East Bound and Down Lyrics
East bound and down load it up and truck it
We gonna do what they say can’t be done
We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there
I’m east bound just watch ol’ Bandit run

Keep your foot hard on the pedal son never mind them brakes
Let it all hang out cause we got a run to make
The boys are thirsty in Atlanta and there’s beer in Texarkana
And we’ll bring it back no matter what it takes

East bound and down load it up and truck it…

East bound and down load it up and truck it…

Ol’ Smokey’s got them ears on he’s hot on your trail
He ain’t gonna rest till you’re in jail
So you got to dodge ‘im and you got to duck ‘im
You got to keep that diesel truckin’
Just put that hammer down and give it hell

East bound and down load it up and truck it…