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The Highwaymen — Highwayman
Album: Highwayman
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 778









Released: 1985
Length: 2:59
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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''Willie Nelson'':
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 lifeblood on my blade
The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five
But I am still alive

''Kris Kristofferson''
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 and furled the mainsail in a blow
And when the yards broke off they said that I got killed
But I am living still

''Waylon Jennings'':
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 great tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around
I'll always be around, and around and around and around and around...

''Johnny Cash'':
I'll fly a starship
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...
Comments (88)add comment
There are a bunch of videos on youtube of a concert they held on Long Island back in the early 90's that are amazing...would have been a heck of an evening.
Posted 1 year ago by photolew    [ Reply ]
Love this song, penned by the mighty Jimmy Webb, but prefer his version. 

Reminds me of: 

Mark Knopfler & James Taylor - Sailing to Philadelphia
Posted 2 years ago by eamon3    [ Reply ]
Great song too bad waylon and johnny are no longer with us
Posted 3 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Nostalgia may be a little too potent for these guys to wield so freely.
Posted 3 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
A pedant writes that pictures are hung, but people are hanged.
Posted 3 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
great cover here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Posted 3 years ago by jbatista    [ Reply ]
 loungelizard48 wrote:

If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all.
 
my grandmother (dog bless her soul) used to say to me,' if you can't say summit bad a bowt someone don't say nothin at all.'..... wise words indeed
Posted 3 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
 hippie wrote:
Criminal wrote:
Was that Willie Nelson?! Damn I hate his voice. Who the hell invited him to sing with musical greats?
Three other musical greats, that's who dick-head.
 
If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all.
Posted 3 years ago by loungelizard48    [ Reply ]
Whoa!  Bill!  Way to go!
Posted 3 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
 Queue wrote:
Is this some strange country branch of the Wilbury family tree?
 

More root than branch.
Posted 4 years ago by haljordan    [ Reply ]
 Queue wrote:
Is this some strange country branch of the Wilbury family tree?
 
Seeing as how it pre-dates the Wilburys ...
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 hippie wrote:
Criminal wrote:
Was that Willie Nelson?! Damn I hate his voice. Who the hell invited him to sing with musical greats?
Three other musical greats, that's who dick-head.
 
Bwahahahahahaha!
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
Super group song adaption of the Cloud Atlas. Or is it the other way around? Or the right way around but back again? 
Posted 4 years ago by forthbrdge    [ Reply ]
Gawd this is cornball AF. Only Johnny Cash's voice-interpretation saves it. As it did many a highly cornball song.  
Posted 4 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
My dad's favourite song. He made a tape from his vinyl album to listen to on family road trips. I would always turn my walkman up to drown it out. Now it is one of my favourites. What a treat to randomly hear it on RP. 
Posted 4 years ago by JimmyJames    [ Reply ]
 ziakut wrote:
Although I truly respect all four of these stars...this is remarkably forgettable.
 
Hmmn.  Many respectfully disagree:  'Highwayman' was #1 in 1985.
Posted 4 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
Some tasty Knopfleresque tone there in the background
Posted 4 years ago by nathanieldavis89    [ Reply ]
Although I truly respect all four of these stars...this is remarkably forgettable.
Posted 4 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
I gotta stop glancing at the right rail stuff. Thought this 1 was filed under something some college DJ, once, regaled 4 people in a bar with for having come up with, once in a CO college town, as "Outlaw Rock." But guess those FM classic rockster dudes have long sorted-in-their-minds that way.  
Posted 4 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
Is this some strange country branch of the Wilbury family tree?
Posted 4 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
I guess these guys were sorta okay...

I'd like to hear 'Deportee' off this disc.
c.
Posted 4 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 adib wrote:
 
 
Communist.  šŸ¤­
Posted 5 years ago by FourFortyEight    [ Reply ]
This is truly terrible 
Posted 5 years ago by adib    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:
"And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again" .........

calypsus_1 wrote: Posted: Oct 08, 2008 - 13:11
i would very like to hear this song on RP Station ...if possible still this year, pleaseā€¦.

** 8 **



 


 
You got your wish (albeit almost 11 years later) - still, this is cool, sorta the country version of the Travelling Wilburys.  I'll call it a 7 for now....Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Yes this was there big commercial success but there are other cuts on this album that are great too.
Posted 5 years ago by Decoy    [ Reply ]
"And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again" .........

calypsus_1 wrote: Posted: Oct 08, 2008 - 13:11

i would very like to hear this song on RP Station ...if possible still this year, please….

** 8 **



 


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]

i would very like to hear this song on RP Station ...if possible still this year, please….

** 8 **



Posted 16 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
forge wrote:
Holy moley, how do you get that much talent together at once without some kind of critical-mass detonation?
BEER.
Posted 18 years ago by hippie    [ Reply ]
I'm surprised by the lovefest here. Individual talents out the ass but this song is just silly.
Posted 18 years ago by slartibart_O    [ Reply ]
"I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below. They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound" this sounds like a freshman poetry contest. i was suprized to see cash and nelson were part of the group.
Posted 18 years ago by donpdonp    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by SpaceCase    [ Reply ]
Yikes! It's like the Traveling Wilburys of country. More super-group stuff that comes out sounding like easy listening. Maybe we could get John Tesh to collaborate with Kenny G . . .
Posted 18 years ago by bitterdave    [ Reply ]
So is this Willie Nelson & Johnny Cash?!!? I'm so confused.... Edit: I'm a moron, I see them in the top of the album now and Bill just told us as well.
Posted 18 years ago by djblitz    [ Reply ]
Waylon's voice sounds great, though.
Posted 18 years ago by drivinwest    [ Reply ]
They're all good in my book
Posted 18 years ago by luin    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by Moak    [ Reply ]
I like Kristofferson. He excels at just about everything he does. He's a very good at acting, writing, piloting helicopters and probably several other things he's tried. But his singing voice is just flat. Another poster mentioned Willie's voice bringing this group down. I disagree. It's Kristofferson's voice.
Posted 18 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
pope183 wrote:
"I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow" hard to imagine any one of these rusty dusty outlaws sailing ..
Or even sitting on a horse for more than half an hour.
Posted 18 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
pope183 wrote:
"I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow" hard to imagine any one of these rusty dusty outlaws sailing ..
... Live Cattle Trade or Rustling as it was known then! ...
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
one of the greats...always good to hear some country music...real country not the crap on CMT or the radio I call that crap HOT Country
Posted 18 years ago by GChevy410    [ Reply ]
"I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow" hard to imagine any one of these rusty dusty outlaws sailing ..
Posted 18 years ago by pope183    [ Reply ]
Oh wow, I haven't heard this in years
Posted 18 years ago by serinde    [ Reply ]
I love all of these guys, and they definitely deserve their legendary status... but they could have done so much better than this song - it doesn't reflect their collective greatness.
Posted 18 years ago by jbtidwell    [ Reply ]
It's interesting to hear Cash' voice lent to a different song style.
Posted 18 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
Its blatently obvious that now its time for the mute button.
Yeah. I can dig PURE country music but this is the kind of commercial tripe that paints all of C&W with a crappy brush. I know these guys are legends but...well, when I listen to the new Johnny Cash "Legend" CD this is the one track I skip past. Blech.
Posted 18 years ago by TJOpootertoot    [ Reply ]
damn, great song. fantastic stuff. Good work RP
Posted 18 years ago by jeffersonpump    [ Reply ]
Its blatently obvious that now its time for the mute button.
Posted 18 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
forge wrote:
Holy moley, how do you get that much talent together at once without some kind of critical-mass detonation?
Very true forge. I am not generally into country music - but this was great to listen to this morning. Almost as good as my beloved prog rock and celtic music! Hey - I just noticed on Amazon.com that there is a DVD of this same gathering of great singers. Click here for the DVD version. (Or go here for just the CD version.)
Posted 18 years ago by Steven_G    [ Reply ]
Does anyone know if that is Mark Knopfler playing electric guitar on this track? Sounds a lot like his style.
Posted 18 years ago by IceNine    [ Reply ]
much greatness! have good, get give
Posted 18 years ago by Glockman45    [ Reply ]
Criminal wrote:
Was that Willie Nelson?! Damn I hate his voice. Who the hell invited him to sing with musical greats?
Three other musical greats, that's who dick-head.
Posted 18 years ago by hippie    [ Reply ]
If you played this every day, it would make me very very happy :)
Posted 19 years ago by mettle    [ Reply ]
Was that Willie Nelson?! Damn I hate his voice. Who the hell invited him to sing with musical greats?
Posted 19 years ago by Criminal    [ Reply ]
I can't believe I've never paid attention to the words to this song... nice.
Posted 19 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
Holy moley, how do you get that much talent together at once without some kind of critical-mass detonation?
Posted 19 years ago by forge    [ Reply ]
question for comic-book dorks: who did the illustration on the cover of this album?
Posted 19 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
Phaedra wrote:
Haven't heard this song in over a decade. Thank you, its a wonderful song!
Ditto, really brings back chills. Stuff like this is what makes RP great.
Posted 19 years ago by GreenJello    [ Reply ]
Super stuff. Waylon was my first guitar hero, and a model musically. I was so sad when he died a couple years ago.
Posted 20 years ago by guitarwhisperer    [ Reply ]
Okay...the irony here is slaying me! Loreena McKennitt just played before this... And I said that it wasn't one of my favorite song of hers...but that The Highwayman is... And here this is....totally different but....same name. I love this place...and you are quite clever, Bill!
Posted 20 years ago by BluEyes    [ Reply ]
How cool to hear this play. I love RP.
Posted 20 years ago by Dais    [ Reply ]
Only one complaint - too short!
Posted 20 years ago by BluEyes    [ Reply ]
I saw these guys in East Hampton, Long Island when they opened for Paul Simon more than 10 years ago. To this day I remember their performance more than Paul's. What a collection of talent. Second only to Traveling Wilbury's in the modern era.
Posted 20 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
A Nashville Super Group. Excellent music, nonetheless. lovebuzz wrote:
This song reminds me of my cousin who died in Iraq. REST IN PEACE BERT! YOUR ALWAYS WITH US.
Sorry to hear that, LB. The hearts of RP listeners are with you.
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
This song reminds me of my cousin who died in Iraq. REST IN PEACE BERT! YOUR ALWAYS WITH US.
Posted 20 years ago by lovebuzz    [ Reply ]
Wanted it to keep adding verses....again and again and again!! :grouphug.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by Peyote    [ Reply ]
The whole is less than the sum of its parts. Is that a real drummer or did they just open a can?
Posted 20 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
thank you for playing this! :chillpill.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by streetsintherain    [ Reply ]
I wouldn't say that I have ever been much of a big fan of country western music but this song is really smooth. Very enjoyable!
Posted 20 years ago by RobGraham    [ Reply ]
supremo wrote:
A haunting melody from some of the best country western performers of all time. And I would have rated it higher except that isn't even their best song (in my own opinion of course).
What would you have rated higher? I really haven't heard anything else by these powerhouses of country music, but I'm pretty damned impressed by this offering. Dazzle me. I'm ready. alanb wrote:
Nifty! It's absolutely amazing how those guys all have such distinctive voices, and yet they work together. It would be cool to follow this one ("I fly a starship across the Universe divide...") with a couple of rocket songs, like Space Oddity and Major Tom.
Yeah, that'd be a great block of music, wouldn't it? Maybe add "Starship Trooper" by Yes, or "Things to Come" by Starship... The possibilities are endless...
Posted 20 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
A haunting melody from some of the best country western performers of all time. And I would have rated it higher except that isn't even their best song (in my own opinion of course).
Posted 21 years ago by supremo    [ Reply ]
I love this station...i mentioned this song earlier and now we are hearing it!!! Thank you Bill!!!
Posted 21 years ago by DavidCarrico    [ Reply ]
Nifty! It's absolutely amazing how those guys all have such distinctive voices, and yet they work together. It would be cool to follow this one ("I fly a starship across the Universe divide...") with a couple of rocket songs, like Space Oddity and Major Tom.
Posted 21 years ago by alanb    [ Reply ]
Is this track for real??!!!!! Reminds me of Camoflage lol
Posted 21 years ago by BigCalm    [ Reply ]
Highwaymen written by Jimmy Webb
Posted 21 years ago by link    [ Reply ]
In the tradition of Johnny Cash... and Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson . . . but more rock-like . . . reminds me, too, of the era when the 1960s transmogrified. The lead singer has a great cavernous, chesty bass-baritone voice. More voices like his, please!
Posted 22 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
good tune.
Posted 22 years ago by red    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by tbase: As a child I was forced to endure country music and countless square dances at the hands of my parents (I still love them anyhow). One of the things I hated the most was that once in a while, I'd find myself actually enjoying a song they'd be listening to- and this was one of them. :D Great song! ...and it is Johnny Cash... and Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.
That is an adorable story! I love it!! This is a cool song -I was introduced to it my my country music loving dad too... ;)
Posted 22 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]
As a child I was forced to endure country music and countless square dances at the hands of my parents (I still love them anyhow). One of the things I hated the most was that once in a while, I'd find myself actually enjoying a song they'd be listening to- and this was one of them. :D Great song! ...and it is Johnny Cash... and Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.
Posted 22 years ago by tbase    [ Reply ]
This sounds a bit like Johnny Cash. I do like this song.
Posted 22 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]
Surprising how does pics from Africa match real well with this (\"real American\") music, in my experience.
Posted 22 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
Get along little dawgie !! I like it. A new must for the collection.
Posted 22 years ago by BoguSoft    [ Reply ]
I\'ve always thought this collaboration of genius musicmakers could not be surpassed. Still think that way, even though this is not one of my favorite songs and country music is not a music genre I frequently listen to. You just have to admire and respect that much talent all in one place at one time. :)
Posted 22 years ago by Lil_Chickadee    [ Reply ]
I could listen to this song repeatedly. One of my very favorite songs ever! :)
Posted 22 years ago by Sandee    [ Reply ]