[7] The version by the quartet entered the Hot Country Songs Billboard chart on May 18, 1985, rose to number 1 and spent 20 weeks total on the chart. Hurst, Hawkeye. Thanks for a great story & an incredible song. You'll notice that Willy Nelson was a highwayman, and in the last stanza Cash says that he "could be a highwayman again." I was a little disappointed in his performance. My friend Harry Nilsson was there, and we were doing some professional drinking. Nilsson hated that line, “Along the coach roads I did ride.” He said, “You mean, ‘Along the coach roads you rode?’” (Laughs) In that particular case, I felt it was justified because it was kind of an antique way of speaking. performingsongwriter.com/jimmy-webb-highwayman/. Sign Up For First Notice of Creative Workshops, Jimmy Webb’s Story Behind “The Highwayman”, Old Crow Medicine Show on Hiatus; New Videos from Joey + Rory and Shooter Jennings; Tracy Lawrence Goes to Trial - Engine 145, Kelly Joe Phelps: Brother Sinner and the Whale, Marian Anderson’s April 9, 1939 Lincoln Memorial Performance, The Sgt. Webb wrote his "Highwayman" himself, and it isn't really about a highwayman as such but reincarnation/mysticism, and has more in common with the Al Stewart song " One Stage Before " than with the Wishbone Ash track " Stand And Deliver ". That is the touching brilliance of the song. Hoekstra, Dave. It’s super easy, we promise! "Marty Stuart Has Come a Long Way to Just Now be Arriving". Jimmy Webb, who wrote this song, says that it is about one person who has died three times but is still alive. It was really interesting to find out why it was written – and it makes this song even more interesing and poignant. 4 great voices.. He left my apartment one night, and I went to sleep and had an incredibly vivid dream. The following year, Glen Campbell recorded his version, which was released on his 1979 album Highway… After a late-night round of "professional drinking" with his friend Harry Nilsson, Webb went to sleep and had "an incredibly vivid dream":[1], I had an old brace of pistols in my belt and I was riding, hell-bent for leather, down these country roads, with sweat pouring off of my body. The song has since been recorded by other artists. Still, I think it’s a great song, and I was glad to see it finally become a hit by someone, although Jimmy Webb had the best reading and orchestral arrangement of the song, thanks to George Martin’s genius. I originally wondered if they had had past life regressions. As a Glen Campbell fan, I got his version as soon as it came out. Wonderful! [1], Webb included the phrasing in the line, "Along the coach roads I did ride" to convey a kind of "antique way of speaking". - "Proud Time for Pop". "Highwayman" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb, about a soul with incarnations in four different places in time and history: as a highwayman, a sailor, a construction worker on the Hoover Dam, and finally as a captain of a starship. Willie Nelson singing he was a highwayman -totally believable as his reincarnation & Johhny Cash delivering the last verse in his deep growl. General Comment Although most (if not all) of these men are devout Christians, the song is about reincarnation. You miss the point. Another great story shared by ‘Performing Songrtiter.’ Thank you! Webb later observed, "I don't know how they decided who would take which verse, but having Johnny last was like having God singing your song (laughs). After I recorded it, the song languished for years. Yes, there are some really screwed up people in the world. Eight years later, Glen played it for Johnny Cash. [11], This article is about the song by Jimmy Webb. "Highwayman" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb, about a soul with incarnations in four different places in time and history: as a highwayman, a sailor, a construction worker on the Hoover Dam, and finally as a captain of a starship. I was terrified because I was being pursued by police, who were on the verge of shooting me. Don’t have an account? I agree 100% Waylon's voice is incredible. Hurst, Hawkeye. In 1985, the song became the inspiration for the naming of the supergroup the Highwaymen, which featured Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Required fields are marked *. Their cover of the Webb song remains the most popular and widely known of the Highwaymen's songs, being their only song to reach number 1 ("Desperados Waiting for a Train" at number 15 is the next closest). [5] Campbell then played the song again, this time to all four of them, and the quartet had the name for their new supergroup, the Highwaymen, the name of their first album, Highwayman, and the name of their first single. He becomes a sailor, then a dambuilder. I was introduced to this song by Albert Lee at a live gig. I remember the first time I heard this song. What a laugh! I don’t know how they decided who would take which verse, but having Johnny last was like having God singing your song (laughs). Webb first recorded the song on his album El Mirage, released in May 1977. Your email address will not be published. That was just awesome! You’ve got the best version on your El Marage album Johnny Cash singing about piloting a starship was laughable, but I guess he’d be the only one sober enough of that group to do it. "Glen Campbell, The Zelig of Roots Music". I was terrified because I was being pursued by police, who were on the verge of shooting me. The song was influenced by the real-life hanged highwayman Jonathan Wild. Grammy-winning record producer Don Was shares studio stories and insight on his work with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul Westerberg, Kris Kristofferson and more. I sat up in bed, sweating through my pajamas.