About the song
“Highwayman” marks a seminal moment in country music history. Released in 1985, this album is the debut studio release from the renowned supergroup, The Highwaymen. The group features four of the most influential figures in country music: Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. The album stands as their first collective effort and became their most successful work, resonating deeply with fans and critics alike.
The story behind “Highwayman” is one of mutual admiration and shared musical journeys. Each member of The Highwaymen had long respected the others’ contributions to music. Johnny Cash, who began his career in the mid-1950s at Sun Records, shared an apartment with Waylon Jennings during the late 1960s. This period was significant, as Jennings and Willie Nelson were becoming disillusioned with Nashville’s traditional recording methods. At this time, Kris Kristofferson emerged with a fresh approach to country songwriting, and his work quickly gained recognition. Cash’s rendition of Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down” was particularly successful and spotlighted Kristofferson’s talent.
By the 1970s, Jennings, Nelson, and Kristofferson were integral to the Outlaw movement, which challenged the mainstream country music scene. While Waylon and Willie enjoyed significant success with their albums and tours, by the mid-1980s, Nelson remained the most prominent figure in country music, while the others saw their careers slow down somewhat. Joe Nick Patoski, a biographer of Willie Nelson, noted that the collaboration aimed to rejuvenate the careers of these legendary artists who were no longer as prominent on contemporary country radio.
The idea for the album came together in 1984, when Johnny Cash invited the other three members to Montreux, Switzerland for his annual Christmas special. What began as informal jam sessions soon transformed into a serious project. As Waylon Jennings recalled, “The idea took hold” after their time together. Despite Cash’s limited prior interaction with Nelson, the group’s chemistry quickly became evident, and they soon found themselves recording in a Nashville studio.
For Kristofferson, the collaboration was a moment of awe, as he considered himself fortunate to be working with such esteemed artists. This album not only highlights the individual talents of these country legends but also showcases the powerful synergy they achieved together. “Highwayman” remains a testament to the enduring legacy of its creators and their ability to blend their unique styles into a cohesive and celebrated body of work.
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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 lifeblood on my blade
The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five
But I am still alive
I was a sailor
I was borne 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
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 and around
I 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
I’ll be back again and again and again and again and again and again