May 15, 19771 viewer
Highwayman Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I was a highwayman
Along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side
And many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
And many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade
They finally hung me in the spring of '25
But I am still alive
[Verse 2]
I was a sailor
And 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
[Verse 3]
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 was a highwayman
Along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side
And many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
And many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade
They finally hung me in the spring of '25
But I am still alive
[Verse 2]
I was a sailor
And 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
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
It all goes round and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round
Bah, bum-dudum duduh-doh
[Verse 4]
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 still remain
I'll be back again
[Outro]
Bup-buh bup-bup bah, bum-duhduh duhduh-doh
Bup-buh bup-bup bah, bum-duhduh duhduh-doh
It all goes round and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round
Bah, bum-dudum duduh-doh
[Verse 4]
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 still remain
I'll be back again
[Outro]
Bup-buh bup-bup bah, bum-duhduh duhduh-doh
Bup-buh bup-bup bah, bum-duhduh duhduh-doh
About
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Genius Annotation
“Highwayman” is a song written by American songwriter Jimmy Webb. The song was originally recorded on Webb’s 1977 album El Mirage, later to be recorded by country supergroup The Highwaymen (consisting of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson), who named the group after the song.
The lyrics originated from a dream Webb had about being a highwayman being hunted down, and when he woke up he felt as if it was some sort of past life. Each verse depicts a different person possessed by one soul at different periods of time. The Highwaymen’s version has each member singing one verse each.
Q&A
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Released on
May 15, 1977
Highwayman Covers
Highwayman by Ashley Campbell, Mä elän vieläkin by Pate Mustajärvi (Ft. Harri Marstio, Jorma Kääriäinen & Topi Sorsakoski), Highwayman by Judy Collins (Ft. Jonas Fjeld), Highwayman by The Highwaymen, Highwayman by Beseech, The Highwayman by Walk off the Earth (Ft. Ian Blackwood & Ryan Guay) & Highwayman by Iced Earth (Ft. Jon Schaffer, Michael Poulsen & Russell Allen)
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