From his newly released EP, Me and Paul
WATCH "Ballad of Junior and Lloyd"
https://jonbyrd.com/
“Ballad of Junior & Lloyd” was written by Jon’s friend, James Kelly. It’s Paul Niehaus on pedal steel guitar and Jon on guitar and vocals. Jon Byrd is a seasoned songwriter and performer of songs of heartache. His longtime friendship with this song’s writer adds a rich dimension to the song’s performance. Give it a listen, and then place this one on your top shelf songwriting collection. “Junior and Lloyd were good buddies.” —Americana Highways
“Ballad of Jr. and Lloyd” was written by my long-time best pal James Kelly in Atlanta, GA. My coming of age playing and recording country music was with James and his band Slim Chance and the Convicts. This song speaks to friendship that your lucky to find once in a whole lifetime.” — Jon Byrd
"Ballad of Jr. and Lloyd" from the album 'Me and Paul'
Jon Byrd on Guitar and Vocals
Paul Niehaus on Pedal Steel Guitar
Recorded & Engineered by Joe V. McMahan at Wow & Flutter Studio Nashville, TN
Mastering Engineer: Alex McCollough at True East Mastering Nashville, TN
Produced by Joe V. McMahan Executive Producer: Friends of Longleaf Pine Records
Video and Editing by Dave Coleman at Howard's Apartment Studio, Inglewood, TN
Thanks to Meghan Lightell & Derek Greene for the time in their backyard.
LYRICS:
"Ballad of Jr. & Lloyd" (written by James Kelly)
Jr. & Lloyd were good buddies
They ran a little business up the hill
Jr. & Lloyd made lots of money
Sellin’ homemade whisky from a still
Jr. he was a family man
Lloyd was loyal to none
Jr. only did it for the money
Lloyd said he did it for the fun
BR: They never said a word about the danger
They never showed a single ounce of fear
Deep inside they both had felt the presence
Of a dark cloud that lingered so near
Lloyd had a recipe for moonshine
Jr. had a way with a car
Lloyd drove that suped-up Chrysler thru those border towns
Jr. kept it runnin’ fast and far
A 1,000 lbs. of steel and copper tubing
Kept the whiskey drippin’ night & day
4,000 thousand lbs. of bondo, steel, and rubber
Delivered mountain dew the fastest way
BR: One night those Revenuers lucky-guessed Lloyd’s secret route
And set the roadblock up around the bend
Jr. saw the ball of fire and reached for Flossy’s hand
And shed a farewell tear from his best friend
Now Jr. makes a livin’ fixin’ up those real fast cars
Watching them go ‘round and ‘round and ‘round
He wishes Lloyd was out there he’d be runnin’ w/the best
Ol’ Lloyd would rather die than let you down
Jr. & Lloyd were good buddies
Ran a little business up the hill
Jr. & Lloyd made lots of money
Sellin’ homemade whisky from a still