Highway Man
Billy Walker · Portrait of Billy [1969]
(Curtis Leach)
Headed down on the open highway only a fool would travel my way
Run back to your mama while you can
You can't turn my wandering feet down into a dead end street
You can't win the love of a highway man.
A highway man gotta feel the wind blowin' in his face
A highway man can never settle down no place
A highway man gotta keep a living by the code
His only love is a love of the open road.
--- Instrumental ---
Don't tell me you're gonna miss me I not wanna take you with me
I feel bad about leavin' you behind
I don't know where this road might lead to I only know I feel I need to
Travel alone and see what I can find.
A highway man gotta feel the wind blowin' in his face
A highway man can never settle down no place
A highway man gotta keep a living by the code
His only love is a love of the open road.
Baby, I'll always be a highway man...
Headed down on the open highway only a fool would travel my way
Run back to your mama while you can
You can't turn my wandering feet down into a dead end street
You can't win the love of a highway man.
A highway man gotta feel the wind blowin' in his face
A highway man can never settle down no place
A highway man gotta keep a living by the code
His only love is a love of the open road.
--- Instrumental ---
Don't tell me you're gonna miss me I not wanna take you with me
I feel bad about leavin' you behind
I don't know where this road might lead to I only know I feel I need to
Travel alone and see what I can find.
A highway man gotta feel the wind blowin' in his face
A highway man can never settle down no place
A highway man gotta keep a living by the code
His only love is a love of the open road.
Baby, I'll always be a highway man...
Highway Man
Billy Walker's "Highway Man" stands as a defining track from his 1969 album *Portrait of Billy*, showcasing his mastery of the honky-tonk and country rock styles prevalent in the late 1960s. The song features Walker's signature vocal delivery, characterized by a gritty, raspy tone that cuts through the arrangement with raw energy. Recorded during a pivotal period in his career, the track exemplifies the blend of traditional country instrumentation and the emerging rock sensibilities that would define his later work. It remains a staple of his discography, reflecting the rugged, road-trip aesthetic that Walker brought to the genre throughout the 1960s and beyond.