"Don't Forget The Coffee Billy Joe" is a song about a family living in rural America struggling with poverty and illness. The first verse sets the scene by describing a frozen landscape and the family's lack of transportation. The main character, Billy Joe, is sent on a mission to get coffee, which is essential to his mother's wellbeing. The song shows the hardships faced by the family in their everyday life. Billy Joe's father is out of work and they are waiting for a paycheck to arrive. His mother is sick with a bad cough and needs medicine. The family struggles to make ends meet and buy necessities like coffee. The lyrics also touch on the community's reliance on each other for help. Billy Joe's father asks him to relay a message to his friend Fred about killing hogs and selling dogs. He also warns him not to waste time in the pool room and to be aware of a potential snowstorm. The song ends with the repeated admonition to "don't forget the coffee Billy Joe". This simple phrase emphasizes the importance of even the smallest details in this family's life. The song overall is a poignant portrayal of the struggles of poverty and the importance of community support.
