Before The Highwaymen turned “Highwayman” into an outlaw country anthem, Glen Campbell gave the song a sweeping, cinematic life of its own.

THIS SONG HAD A LONG ROAD BEFORE WILLIE NELSON EVER SANG IT.

Jimmy Webb wrote and first recorded “Highwayman” in 1977. The song follows one soul through four lives: a highwayman, a sailor, a dam builder, and finally a starship captain.

Then Glen Campbell recorded it in 1978 and later performed it with orchestras, giving the song the drama of an American horror story.

Glen Campbell Live in Concert-“Highwayman” With The Boston Pops

But here’s what made Glen’s version special…

With the Boston Pops behind him, “Highwayman” became bigger than a country song.

It sounded like a legend being told around a fire, with strings, horns, and Glen’s voice turning every verse into a different lifetime.

And that’s not all…

The song later found its most famous home with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. Their 1985 version hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart and even gave the supergroup its name.

Here’s Jimmy Webb’s own version of the song that started it all…

Here’s the truth…

“Highwayman” survived because every great artist heard something different in it.

Jimmy Webb heard reincarnation of a lost era.

Glen Campbell pictured what it would sound like with a full orchestra.

Willie Nelson and The Highwaymen heard four outlaws telling one eternal story.

Which version of “Highwayman” do you prefer: Glen Campbell’s orchestral take or The Highwaymen’s outlaw classic?