About the song
“Highwayman” by The Highwaymen is a truly unique and captivating song that transcends the boundaries of traditional country music. Released in 1985, this track stands as a testament to the collective talent and storytelling prowess of its performers: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. It’s more than just a song; it’s an epic narrative, a journey through time and across different lives.
The song’s lyrics, written by Jimmy Webb, tell the story of four different characters, each living in a different historical era. The highwayman, the sailor, the dam builder, and the starship captain are all connected by a common thread: they are all individuals who have lived and died, only to be reborn in another time and place. This concept of reincarnation and the cyclical nature of life is both profound and thought-provoking.
The Highwaymen’s vocal delivery, marked by its raw honesty and emotional depth, enhances the song’s epic and timeless quality. Each member of the group takes on a different character, bringing their own unique vocal style and personality to the performance. The interplay between their voices, marked by its harmonious blend and subtle nuances, creates a captivating listening experience.
The song’s arrangement, typically grand and sweeping, allows the narrative to take center stage. The driving rhythm, soaring harmonies, and orchestral flourishes create a sense of drama and grandeur, mirroring the epic scope of the lyrics.
“Highwayman” is more than just a country song; it’s a cinematic experience, a journey through time and across different lives. It’s a testament to the power of music to tell stories and to evoke emotions that transcend generations.
Video
Lyrics
I was a highwayman, along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
Many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade
The bastards hung me in the spring of ’25
But I am still alive
I was a sailor, I was born upon the tide
And with the sea I did abide
I sailed a schooner ’round the horn to Mexico
I went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow
And when the yards broke off, they said that I got killed
But I am living still
I was a dam builder across the river deep and wide
Where steel and water did collide
A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado
I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
They buried me in that gray tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around
I’ll always be around and around and around
And around and around and around
I’ll fly a star ship across the universe divide
And when I reach the other side
I’ll find a place to rest my spirit if I can
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain
But I will remain
And I’ll be back again and again and again
And again and again and again
