Jimmy Webb's The Highwayman

[Guest guest]

About a week ago, on National Public Radio, they

interviewed American country-singer Glen Campbell, and

the songwriter Jimmy Webb, who penned a number of

Glen's hits ("Wichitaw Lineman," The Moon'a A Harsh

Mistress," etc.). Webb's lyrics are often

intelligent, moving, and evocative.

 

They played the following song in live performance.

Perhaps being aware of my father's immanent death, it

moved me to tears. But it typifies the difference

between the Western and the Hindu/Buddhist views of

reincarnation. I found myself talking to the radio:

 

"Yeah, well we Westerners see reincarnation as a new

adventure. And the song's examples are all romantic,

swashbuckling adventures. The vast majority of

lifetimes are devoid of heroism or even real

challenges. Nobody remembers past lives of poverty

and hardship, frustration, illness, perpetual

childbirth, with no hope for release. The Eastern

view of reincarnation, the point of the exercise, is

to get OFF the wheel, not continuously ride it like a

kid on a merry-go-round!"

 

A Neo-Pagan friend wrote me, "May your beloved Ganesha

remove all obstacles to your father's quick

reincarnation into a better, more exciting life." I

dunno... What about Moksha?

 

Here's the lyric:

>

> THE HIGHWAYMAN

>

> I was a highwayman

> Along the coach roads I did ride

> With the sword and pistol by my side

> And many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade

> And many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade

> They fin'lly hung me in the spring of '25

> But I am still alive

>

> I was a sailor

> And I was born upon the tide

> And with the sea I did abide

> I sailed a schooner 'round the horn of Mexico

> I went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow

> And when the yards broke off they say that I got

> killed

> But I am living still

>

> I was a dam builder

> Across the river deep and wide

> Where steel and water did collide

> A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado

> I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below

> They buried me in that great tomb that knows no

> sound

> But I am still around

> Seems like it all goes 'round and 'round

> and 'round and 'round ...

>

> I'll fly a starship

> Across the universe divide

> Until I reach the other side

> I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can

> Perhaps I may become a highwayman again

> Or I may simply be a single drop of rain

> But I will remain

> And I'll be back again

> and again, and again, and again.

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

 

 

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