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.
Me And Bobby McGee
The Highwaymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waitin' for the train
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down
Just before it rained
Rode us all the way to New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
And was playing soft
With them windshield wipers slappin' time
I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free
Feelin' good was easy, Lord,
When he sang the blues
And feelin' good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
From Kentucky coal mines
To the California sun
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Through all kinds of weather, Lord
Through everything I done
Bobby baby kept me from the cold
Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord
I let him slip away
Lookin' for the home I hope he'll find it
And I'd trade all of my tomorrows
For one single yesterday
Holdin' Bobby's body next to mine
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' left is all that Bobby left me
Feelin good was easy, Lord
When he sang the blues
And buddy, that was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
The Highwaymen's "Me and Bobby McGee" is a quintessential road song about two friends traveling from Baton Rouge to New Orleans and then all over the country. The song taps into the universal desire for freedom, the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, and the power of music to alleviate pain and unite people. The opening lines depict the singer's desperation and exhaustion as he waits for a train in Baton Rouge, feeling dusty and worn out. Bobby, a charismatic hitchhiker, appears out of nowhere and offers him a ride on a diesel truck. The two men start bonding and singing together, creating a sense of camaraderie and excitement. The singer's harpoon and Bobby's blues guitar become the soundtrack to their adventure, as they weave in and out of Louisiana towns and California hills, sharing confidences and dreams. The chorus, which repeats the paradoxical line "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose," suggests that the only way to overcome the pain of losses and setbacks is to embrace the fleeting moments of joy and creativity that make life worth living. The song ends with a poignant image of the singer longing for a former lover, whom he lost along with Bobby, and cherishing the memory of his brief, intense friendship with Bobby as a source of solace and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
Busted flat in Baton Rouge
I was broke down and stranded in Baton Rouge.
Waitin' for the train
I was waiting for a train to come and take me away from Baton Rouge.
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
I was tired and worn out, just like my old jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down
Bobby hitchhiked and caught a ride on a diesel truck.
Just before it rained
We were lucky to catch a ride before it started raining.
Rode us all the way to New Orleans
The driver took us all the way to New Orleans.
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
I took out my harmonica from my dirty red bandanna.
And was playing soft
I played my harmonica quietly.
While Bobby sang the blues
Bobby sang a sad song about his troubles.
With them windshield wipers slappin' time
The sound of the windshield wipers was in time with the music.
I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
I was holding hands with Bobby.
We sang every song that driver knew
We sang all the songs that the driver knew.
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Being free means you don't have anything holding you back.
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free
Things that are worthless are often free.
Feelin' good was easy, Lord,
It was easy to feel good.
When he sang the blues
When Bobby sang sad songs.
And feelin' good was good enough for me
Just feeling good was enough for me.
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
Bobby was happy too.
From Kentucky coal mines
I came from the coal mines in Kentucky.
To the California sun
I went from Kentucky all the way to sunny California.
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Bobby knew the deepest parts of my thoughts and feelings.
Through all kinds of weather, Lord
Despite all the different kinds of harsh conditions we went through.
Through everything I done
Despite whatever I may have done or experienced.
Bobby baby kept me from the cold
Bobby kept me warm, both physically and emotionally.
Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord
But then, near Salinas, something happened.
I let him slip away
I allowed Bobby to leave my life.
Lookin' for the home I hope he'll find it
I hope Bobby finds a place he can call home.
And I'd trade all of my tomorrows
I would give up everything I have in the future.
For one single yesterday
Just to have one more day with Bobby.
Holdin' Bobby's body next to mine
I wish I could be holding Bobby close to me again.
Nothin' left is all that Bobby left me
All that's left of Bobby is just memories.
And buddy, that was good enough for me
Those memories are enough to make me happy.
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
And those memories were enough for Bobby too.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRED L FOSTER, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@francesvalentine7467
Those 4 Wonderful men of
Country music, wonderful singer's
An performances, shall never see ,
Same again.
I still love them all,still play their music,and song.
Was real Country Music.
Were lucky to see all the video 's of them.
Even though some of them ,have pass'ed away,sadly.
Alway's be in my heart and memories.
God Bless them.
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🕊🕊🕊
All great friends to-gether.
Saw Chris do tribute to Johnny, could see it hurt him.
Thank you.x x 🕊🕊🕊🕊🎸🎸🎸🎸
@davidmarsh7432
My wife and I were there, and it was one of best concerts that we ever attended. Thank you, Highway Men! I know that some of you have passed, but I will remember you all until my final day! God bless you all.
@Bompkins930
I wish I could have been there😭😭
@bertr6363
We will never see anything with as much class as these 4 legends ever again❤
@YoYo-gt5iq
Every decade gives us great people. We just miss it sometimes bc its not our jam.
@tincat2173
The best of the best.
@rapier1954
for sure
@JoyLedofrd-sh5vy
@🎉rapier1954
@JoyLedofrd-sh5vy
😅
@gilly4881
The guy on harmonica is pretty special. Could listen to him all day long.
@sandramoore
Mickey Rafael was Willie's brother-in-law at one rime.