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.
The Gypsy Rover
The Highwaymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He whistled and he sang til the green wood rang,
And he won the heart of a la - dy.
She left her father's castle gate, she left her own true lover;
She left her servants and her estate
Refrain:
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-doo-dah-day,
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-day-dee,
He whistled and he sang til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a la - dy.
Her father mounted his fastest steed,
And searched the valley all over;
He sought his daughter at great speed
And the whistling gypsy rover.
At last he came to a mansion fine, down by the river Claydee,
And there was music and there was wine
For the gypsy and his lady.
Refrain:
He is no gypsy, my father, she cried,
But Lord of these lands all over,
And I shall stay til my dying day
With my whistling gypsy rover.
Refrain:
The Gypsy Rover is a traditional Irish folk song that tells the story of a gypsy man who wins the heart of a noblewoman and takes her away from her life of privilege to live as a gypsy. The first verse sets the scene by describing the arrival of the gypsy rover, who comes over the hill and into the shady valley, whistling and singing until the woods ring with his music. He captures the heart of the lady with his charming ways, causing her to leave her home and all she knows to follow him.
The second verse introduces the lady's father, who mounts his fastest horse and searches the valley for his daughter. Despite his efforts, he cannot find her until he comes upon a mansion down by the river where the gypsy and his lady are enjoying music and wine. This verse sets up the conflict between the two men and foreshadows the reveal of the gypsy's true identity.
In the final verse, the lady reveals that the man she followed is not just a gypsy, but the lord of the lands they are on, and she intends to stay with him until the end of her days. This twist ending casts the story in a new light, suggesting that the lady's love for the gypsy rover is so great that she is willing to forsake her social status and her former life for him.
Line by Line Meaning
A gypsy rover came over the hill, into the valley shady;
A wandering man from the gypsy community appeared over the hill and into the shadowy valley.
He whistled and he sang til the green wood rang,
He whistled and sang loudly enough for the forest to echo melodies.
And he won the heart of a la - dy.
He succeeded in capturing the affection of the woman.
She left her father's castle gate, she left her own true lover;
She abandoned her father's castle and her loyal partner.
She left her servants and her estate
To follow her gypsy rover.
She departed from her employees and property to follow the wandering stranger.
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-doo-dah-day,
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-day-dee,
Refrain
Her father mounted his fastest steed,
And searched the valley all over;
Her father rode on his fastest horse and scoured the entire valley.
He sought his daughter at great speed
And the whistling gypsy rover.
He searched for his child while encountering the wandering gypsy who continued to whistle.
At last he came to a mansion fine, down by the river Claydee,
Eventually, he arrived at a luxurious estate near the Claydee River.
And there was music and there was wine
For the gypsy and his lady.
There was merriment, filled with music and alcoholic beverages, for the wandering man and his female companion.
He is no gypsy, my father, she cried,
But Lord of these lands all over,
The woman exclaimed that the man was not a wandering gypsy, but the master of all the lands in the area.
And I shall stay til my dying day
With my whistling gypsy rover.
She proclaimed that she would remain with her piper companion for the rest of her life.
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-doo-dah-day,
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-day-dee,
Refrain
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kathrine Leannan
I used to sing this song to my children. Now I sing it to my grandbabies.
lymph4man
Love this eternally...great unique vocal, whistling so gentle to my mind. Gonna try this out on my ukulele! Alleluia!
rte66byhd
this seem to be the version i remember from my college days. it has played in the back of my mind for over 40 years. it's soooo good to hear it again. thanks.
countrypaul
Sweet, beautiful, warm; what was "clean cut folkum" back then has become totally endearing. I always loved this song and this version; this is a great performance. And in stereo!!!!
Karl Mahlmann
I had this 45 as a kid and would listen over and over to this magical song. So glad it's here on youtube.
Margaret Brazill
If I am ever lucky enough to marry the man I love, I want this played at the wedding.
JJBushfan
Nice choice. Good luck.
RNWard1954
I arrived in Australia in September 1963 and was enrolled in Williamstown Nth primary school. We sang this there and it was my absolute favourite song. I've often wished I could remember the words so that I could sing it to myself. Now, to write them down ! Glorious memories, great years.
Dayepipes
50 years since I sang this in primary school. It can be done, you know, you can win the heart of a lady this way.
JJBushfan
Can't whistle any more since gum recession set in. Time really is a tyrant.