The Highwaymen – One Too Many Mornings

About The Song

The Highwaymen‘s interpretation of “One Too Many Mornings.” Now, for those of us who’ve journeyed through the landscape of music for a good while, the name The Highwaymen itself conjures a certain reverence. We’re talking about a supergroup, a meeting of four monumental figures in country music: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Each of these men was a legend in their own right, their voices and songwriting having shaped the very fabric of American music. When they came together, it wasn’t just a band; it was an event, a powerful convergence of distinct personalities and iconic sounds.

Their self-titled debut album in 1985 was a testament to this collective power, and within its tracklist, their take on Bob Dylan‘s “One Too Many Mornings” stands out as a particularly insightful and moving interpretation. Dylan, of course, is a towering figure in American songwriting, his lyrics often imbued with a poetic depth and a keen observation of the human condition. “One Too Many Mornings,” originally appearing on his 1964 album The Times They Are a-Changin’, is a poignant reflection on a relationship that has run its course, a bittersweet acknowledgment of parting ways as dawn breaks. The imagery is vivid, the sense of weary resignation palpable.

What The Highwaymen brought to this already masterful song was a layer of lived experience, a certain gravitas that only these seasoned performers could imbue. Each member takes a verse, their individual voices – Cash’s deep rumble, Jennings’s confident drawl, Nelson’s weathered twang, and Kristofferson’s gravelly sincerity – adding their unique textures to the narrative of farewell. It’s not just a cover; it’s a reinterpretation, a conversation across generations and genres. They take Dylan’s folk-infused lament and ground it in a country sensibility, highlighting the universal themes of love, loss, and the inevitable passage of time.

The arrangement itself is noteworthy. While staying true to the core melody and lyrical structure of Dylan’s original, The Highwaymen‘s version features a slightly more spacious and perhaps melancholic instrumentation. The harmonies, when they come together, are particularly resonant, the blending of these four iconic voices creating a sound that is both familiar and uniquely their own. There’s a sense of camaraderie in their delivery, even as they sing of separation, a feeling that these men, who had shared so much of their lives and careers, understood the complexities of relationships and the bittersweet nature of endings.

Listening to The Highwaymen‘s “One Too Many Mornings” is like sitting down with old friends as they share a story, their voices carrying the weight of experience and the wisdom that comes with it. It’s a reminder that a truly great song can be revisited and reimagined, its core emotions resonating across different styles and interpretations. This version doesn’t try to outdo Dylan’s original; instead, it offers a different perspective, a testament to the power of collaboration and the enduring strength of a well-crafted song. It’s a piece that invites reflection, a gentle reminder of the transient nature of relationships and the quiet dignity that can accompany even the most heartfelt goodbyes. For those of us who appreciate the depth and storytelling in music, The Highwaymen‘s rendition of “One Too Many Mornings” remains a cherished and significant contribution to the American musical canon.

Video

Lyric

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

Down the street the dogs are barkin’
And the day is a-gettin’ dark
One the night begins to fall
Then a dogs’ll lose their bark
An’ the silent night will shatter
From the sounds inside my mind
And I’m one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind

From the crossroads of my doorstep
My eyes start to fade
And I turn back to the room
Where my love and I have laid
An’ I gaze cross the street
To the sidewalk and the sign
And just one too many mornings
An’ a thousand miles behind

It’s a restless hungry feeling
That don’t mean no one no good
When ev’rything I’m a-sayin’
You can say it just as good
You’re right from your side
An’ i’m right from mine
We’re both just one too many mornings
A thousand miles behind

We’re just one too many mornings
An’ a thousand miles behind

We’re just one too many mornings
An’ a thousand miles behind

We’re just one too many mornings
An’ a thousand miles behind