1) The Highwaymen was an Am… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists sharing this name;
1) The Highwaymen was an American country music supergroup, composed of four of the genre's biggest artists, known for their pioneering influence on the outlaw country subgenre: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Active between 1985 and 1995, the group recorded three major label albums as The Highwaymen: two on Columbia Records and one for Liberty Records. Their Columbia works produced three chart singles, including the number one "Highwayman" in 1985.
Between 1996 and 1999, Nelson, Kristofferson, Cash, and Jennings also provided the voice and dramatization for the Louis L'Amour Collection, a four-CD box set of seven Louis L'Amour stories published by the HighBridge Company, although the four were not credited as "The Highwaymen" in this work.
Besides the four formal members of the group, only one other vocal recording artist appeared on a Highwaymen recording: Johnny Rodriguez, who provided Spanish vocal on "Deportee", a Woody Guthrie composition, from "Highwayman".
The four original members starred in a movie together: the 1986 film Stagecoach.
2) The Highwaymen were a collegiate folk group from the 1960s who had a significant impact on the folk scene of that time and remain famous for the song "Michael" and "Cotton Fields." Formed in 1958 while the band members were at college, the group broke up in 1964 after releasing eight albums and ten singles. They reunited in 1987, minus Chan Daniels (who died in 1975), for a concert for their 25th college reunion. Between then and 2009, the band has performed ten to twelve concerts a year. Today, two of the original five members (Steve Butts and Steve Trott) are still alive, with Dave Fisher dying on May 7, 2010, Gil Robbins (father of actor Tim Robbins) dying on April 5, 2011, and Bob Burnett dying on December 8, 2011.
Against the Wind
The Highwaymen Lyrics
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It seems like yesterday, but it was a long time ago
She was lovely, she was the queen of my nights
There in the darkness with the radio, playin' low
The secrets that we shared, the mountains that we moved
Caught like a wildfire out of control
There was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove
JOHNNY:
How she swore that it would never end
I remember how she held me oh, so tight
Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then
CHORUS (ALL):
Against the wind
We were running against the wind
We were young and strong
But just running against the wind
WILLIE:
And the years rolled slowly past, I found myself alone
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends
I found myself further and further from my home
I guess I lost my way, there were oh, so many roads
I was livin' to run and runnin' to live
Never worrying about paying or how much I owed
Movin' eight miles a minute for months at a time
Breakin' all of the rules I could bend
I began to find myself searchin'
Searchin' for shelter again and again
CHORUS (ALL):
Against the wind
We were running against the wind
I found myself seekin'
Shelter against the wind
WILLIE:
All those drifter's days are passed me now
I've got so much more to think about
JOHNNY:
Deadlines and commitments
What to leave in, what to leave out
CHORUS (ALL):
Against the wind
We were running against the wind
Well I'm older now and still
Running against the wind
Against the wind
Against the wind
Against the wind
The Highwaymen’s song “Against the Wind” tells the tale of a once-loving relationship that has since ended. Waylon reflects on his intimate memories with his former lover, recalling the secrets that they shared and the obstacles they overcame together. Johnny, on the other hand, remembers the promises his lover made that the relationship would never end. The chorus captures the essence of the song, emphasizing the difficulty and challenge of struggling against the wind. As the verses progress, the song becomes more introspective, as Willie reflects on his own journey of finding his way back home and Johnny focuses on his current life, filled with deadlines and commitments.
The theme of the song describes the universal struggle of navigating through the difficulties of life. The lyrics strongly emphasize the challenges that come with trying to move forward in life, whether that means overcoming a past relationship or simply finding one's way home. The song's power comes from the relatability of the lyrics, as they capture the universal experience of what it means to grow older and carry the weight of our choices.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like yesterday, but it was a long time ago
We reminisce about a time that felt like yesterday but has passed us by quickly.
She was lovely, she was the queen of my nights
She was beautiful and ruled the nights with her presence.
There in the darkness with the radio, playin' low
We were together in the dark, listening to music at a low volume.
The secrets that we shared, the mountains that we moved
We confided in each other and accomplished great feats together.
Caught like a wildfire out of control
Our passion for each other burned hot and uncontrollably.
There was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove
Our relationship had reached its peak, and there was no need for further validation.
And I remember what she said to me
I recall her exact words that she spoke to me.
How she swore that it would never end
She made a promise that our relationship would never come to an end.
I remember how she held me oh, so tight
I recall how tightly she held me in her arms.
Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then
I regret knowing certain things now that I was unaware of in the past.
Against the wind
We faced challenges head-on and overcame them with determination.
We were running against the wind
We were striving against adversity with everything we had.
We were young and strong
We had youth and strength on our side.
But just running against the wind
Our efforts were solely focused on overcoming the obstacles in front of us.
And the years rolled slowly past, I found myself alone
Time passed by slowly, and I ended up feeling isolated and lonely.
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends
I was in the company of people that I believed to be my friends, but who were actually strangers to me.
I found myself further and further from my home
I became increasingly distant from the place I once called home.
I guess I lost my way, there were oh, so many roads
I became lost and overwhelmed by the many paths I could take in life.
I was livin' to run and runnin' to live
I was constantly on the go, continually seeking out new experiences and opportunities.
Never worrying about paying or how much I owed
I was carefree about financial responsibilities and never concerned about accruing debt.
Movin' eight miles a minute for months at a time
I was always on the move, moving quickly and for long periods of time.
Breakin' all of the rules I could bend
I was willing to break some of the rules as long as I didn't cross a certain line.
I began to find myself searchin'
I started to search for something that felt missing or lost within myself.
Searchin' for shelter again and again
I was repeatedly looking for a place to find solace and refuge from life's hardships.
All those drifter's days are passed me now
The days of wandering aimlessly without direction in life are behind me now.
I've got so much more to think about
I have much more to contemplate and consider in my life now.
Deadlines and commitments
I have responsibilities and obligations that I must prioritize and fulfill.
What to leave in, what to leave out
I must decide what to include and exclude in the various aspects of my life.
Well I'm older now and still
I have grown older, but my drive and determination have not diminished.
Against the wind
I am still facing challenges and fighting against adversity.
Against the wind
The obstacles in my path still require effort and commitment to overcome.
Against the wind
I will persist and keep moving forward despite whatever challenges may come my way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Seger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind