Introduction:
“The Highwaymen” supergroup, comprised of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, came together to create a unique, rebellious brand of country music. “Living Legend,” one of their lesser-known yet impactful songs, was written by Kristofferson and first released on his solo album Easter Island in 1978. The song later appeared on the group’s second album, Highwayman 2, in 1990. It reflects the rugged and reflective ethos that defined the Highwaymen as artists and individuals.
The song’s lyrics reflect on ideals of honor, sacrifice, and the passage of time, capturing a collective narrative about struggles for freedom and personal introspection. As an “old soldier’s” tale, “Living Legend” poses questions about loyalty to one’s causes and the costs of holding onto ideals. This retrospective tone is often seen as a reflection on historical figures, and as a commentary on the heroes who influence us, the lyrics suggest that the world may often forget or misunderstand the depth of these sacrifices.
“Living Legend” exemplifies the Highwaymen’s shared outlook as artists who celebrated hard-lived lives and the concept of legacy. This song remains an homage to their blend of classic outlaw country, while also embodying the group’s collective spirit of defiance, reflective of the way they challenged norms and built lasting musical legacies.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Living Legend”
Was it bitter then,
With our backs against the wall?
[Kristofferson]
Were we better men,
Than we’d ever been before?
[Nelson]
Say, if she came again today,
Would you still answer to the call?
[Kristofferson]
Tell the truth my friend,
Don’t it matter anymore?
[Nelson]
We were simple men,
By her side when she was born.
[Kristofferson spoken]
Talkin’ about the dream.
[Cash sung]
It was simple then,
Like the freedom when you fall.
And we were smaller then you see,
But soon we gathered like a storm.
They don’t understand
What that thunder meant at all.
[Nelson]
Was he crucified,
Was he done in by the law?
[Kristofferson]
Are you satisfied,
That he’ll never ride again?
[Jennings]
Some people say he got away,
They say he never died at all.
[Cash]
If that story’s true,
Does it bother you my friend?
[Kristofferson]
Was it bitter then,
With our backs against the wall?
Spoken
Say, two thousand years ago.
[Nelson sung]
Were we better men,
Than we’d ever been before?
Spoken
Or two hundred years ago.
[Kristofferson sung]
Say, if she came again today,
Would you still answer to the call?
[Cash Spoken]
Or tomorrow.
[Kristofferson sung]
Tell the truth my friend,
Don’t it matter anymore?