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

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?