Nashville Anthems: Dissecting 80s & 90s Country Music

Dissecting "Highwayman" by the Highwaymen (Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings & Johnny Cash) - 1985

1985 takes us to a quartet of legendary "outlaws". Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash called themselves the Highwaymen, and it wasn't just about the song. A lot combines sonically on "Highwayman" to establish its sublime, ethereal vibe, but how do fantasy and reality combine to suggest that something more self-consciously attached to the history of country music is going on in this instant classic?