In the heart of Hazzard County, amidst the revving engines and dusty roads, a moment of sheer excitement erupted in the Duke household. Daisy Duke, known for her kind heart and aspirations beyond waitressing at the Boar’s Nest, was tuned into her transistor radio when a familiar melody filled the air.
“Hey, everybody! Listen!” Daisy exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “That’s my song! Jessi Colter is singing my song! Come on!” Her sudden outburst caught the attention of her cousins, Luke and Bo, and her Uncle Jesse, the family patriarch.
Luke, ever the pragmatist, responded with a puzzled, “What are you talking about?” But Daisy was already caught up in her joyful moment, convinced she was hearing her own creation on the airwaves. “I wrote that song! I wrote it!” she insisted, jumping up and down with excitement.
The Balladeer, the show’s narrator, chimed in, offering context for those unfamiliar with the Dukes. “That’s Cousin Daisy,” he drawled, “She works as a waitress, but aspires to better things. Daisy can cause more trouble than a new-born baby.” He then added, establishing Uncle Jesse’s authority, “Uncle Jesse is the Duke patriarch. His word is law… Usually obeyed out of love… But always obeyed.”
Uncle Jesse, intrigued by Daisy’s fervor, asked, “Who’d you say that was singing?” Daisy, still radiating excitement, replied, “It’s Jessi Colter!” The Balladeer confirmed, “And for all you folks ignorant of good music, Jessi Colter’s one of the world’s best singers. Though I’m partial to June Carter myself.”
Just then, the radio announcer’s voice confirmed Daisy’s claim, “And that was Jessi Colter’s latest on the Big 40 Country Hits album.” Daisy could hardly contain herself, “I just can’t believe it!” she laughed, overwhelmed with joy.
Uncle Jesse, always supportive, offered a kind word, “That sounded real good, Daisy.” Daisy, beaming, explained the journey of her “Daisy Song,” “It took me forever to write the notes down. And after all these years of writing songs, I sent it to this music publisher, and now Jessi Colter is singing it!”
Bo, ever practical, immediately thought of the financial aspect, “Well, that’s great, Daisy. How much are they paying you?” This question brought Daisy’s excitement down to earth. “The pay?” she questioned, the realization dawning on her. Luke followed up, “Well, they did pay you?”
Daisy’s response revealed a less glamorous reality. “No, I paid them!” she admitted. Luke, with his characteristic dry wit, quipped, “That’s the sort of business we ought to have.”
Daisy then recounted the details of her publishing venture. “There was this magazine ad where you paid $50 and they published your songs. So I saved up all my tip money till I had enough, and I sent my song in, and I got this letter back saying it was published.”
Bo, sensing a potential problem, cautioned, “Now, Daisy, uh… some of those ads are for phony operations.” Uncle Jesse’s concern grew, “You think Daisy’s been took?” Luke succinctly summarized the situation, “Well, they got Daisy’s song, Jessi Colter’s got a recording, and Daisy’s got $50 less than she had before.”
Uncle Jesse, understanding the value of hard-earned money, especially for Daisy, declared, “That’s took. And $50 in nickel tips ain’t easy to come by.” Luke then gently educated Daisy on the standard music industry practice, “When you record a song, you’re supposed to get royalties.”
Bo, wanting to investigate further, inquired, “Well, uh, where is this publishing company anyway?” Daisy provided the name, “It’s Lester Starr Music Publishing, in Atlanta.” Uncle Jesse, with a touch of historical cynicism, shook his head, “That place ain’t been right since Sherman burned it.”
Despite the mounting evidence suggesting a scam, Daisy remained optimistic, giggling, “Now come on, I’ll bet this Mr. Starr just made an oversight.” Bo, however, was already thinking about taking action, turning to Luke, “You think we ought to go on to Atlanta and check it out?” The scene ends with the implication that the Dukes are ready to ride to Atlanta to protect Daisy from a potential music publishing scam related to her “daisy song.”
