The Highway

Album: The Highway (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the title track of singer-songwriter Holly Williams' third album. She explained its inspiration: "I was pulling up to the gas station and I started singing the chorus ... came out of nowhere, prayers answered! I went home and grabbed my guitar ... I was so thrilled about this lyric because it was exactly where my longing has been. This came from a very personal place. I've begun to really miss the road."

    Holly has plenty to do at home in Nashville, where she owns a clothing store called H. Audrey and enjoys cooking and homemaking. She married her musical partner Chris Coleman in 2009, giving her all the ingredients for domestic bliss. The allure of the road, however, remained strong and meant that future Williams progeny (likely musical - Holly's dad is Hank Jr. and her grandfather is Hank Sr.) would have to wait. "If it wasn't for the music, I would have started having babies a long time ago," Holly told us. "I want at least three kids that I keep putting off because of music."
  • Williams says that this is a very important song for her, because it's the fruit of a long and arduous recording process where she refused to compromise until the album was just right. Before Holly wrote this song, the album was complete and ready to ship with the title Railroad (there are some promo copies of this version floating around Nashville). "I was actually done with the record," she told us. "I'd paid for it to be mastered, the artwork was done, and I wrote that song. And I kept telling Charlie (producer Charlie Peacock), 'There's something else I need to say. I don't know what it is, but I know there's something else that's going to come out.' And that was just such a true story of where I am right now, that longing for the road and the highway."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.