“Highwayman” isn’t just a song—it’s an anthem that crosses the boundaries of time, space, and mortality. This classic ballad, brought to life by four iconic voices—Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson—captures the essence of a soul that refuses to be confined. It tells a story through four lifetimes, each verse sung by a different “Highwayman,” with each singer portraying a new incarnation of the same enduring spirit.
The first verse starts with Willie Nelson’s hauntingly vivid portrayal of a highwayman—an outlaw riding through the valleys, stealing from the rich in the dead of night, evoking the allure of a lone wolf chasing freedom. Then, Waylon Jennings steps in, his deep voice embodying the brashness and danger of a sailor—confident and daring, as if staring down the relentless waves of fate itself. Kris Kristofferson’s verse brings us into the skies, with his voice soaring as a dam builder, facing tragedy but never losing that spirit of perseverance. And finally, Johnny Cash’s iconic baritone closes the song as a space traveler, with an almost otherworldly calm that wraps up the tale, making you feel like the spirit of the highwayman will continue on, far beyond our earthly realms.
What makes “Highwayman” so powerful is how it taps into a universal human desire—to live boldly, to fight against being forgotten, to believe that some part of us will always carry on, whether in another life or in the stars. It’s a song about defiance, resilience, and the unbreakable nature of a soul that refuses to be tied down. With every verse, you feel the weight of history, the loss and the triumph, and a lingering hope that the spirit never truly fades.
When you listen to “Highwayman,” it’s more than just a song—it’s a journey through lifetimes, a testament to courage, and a reminder that some spirits never die; they simply find new roads to roam.
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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