Curtis Leach - Highway Man. (lyrics in description)

A cracking track released in 1964 by the tragic Curtis Leach. It is thought that on the evening of December 14th 1965, Curtis disturbed an intruder whom he had discovered in his home. After sustaining a knife wound to his left leg, Curtis Leach died from loss of blood before he could get to the hospital. He was 37 years old and left only 20 recordings.

Jim's father had this song in 1965 and we both loved it - here's hoping that you love it too.

Lyrics :-

I brought a Jimmy diesel from Mojave, up to the summit of Cajon,
Headed down the hill to San Bernadino
Pushed by twenty tons of building stone,
The warning buzzer sounded, I was low on air,
I checked the pressure gauges, no pressure there,
I looked at the deep and rocky canyon down below,
And I said man, what a way to go.

I saw a red light in my side view mirror,
I knew there was a highway man behind,
I tried to shift her down one but I missed it,
Then she really started to unwind.
Well that patrolman passed me like I was sittin' still
His siren started screamin' as he headed down the hill,
That highway man had got a crazy notion I could see,
He was gonna try to clear the road for me.
I read a sign, trucks 30 miles per hour,
I watched the hand go round and hit the peg,
That patrol car was burnin' up the highway,
And I was on him like a license tag,
Well I started once to ditch then I lost my nerve,
I side swiped a bob-tail as I straightened the curve,
I opened up my eyes and I was back on level ground,
But it took five more miles to shut her down.

That highway man walked up and put his hand out,
And I reached out and shook it like a man,
He shook me loose and said lets see your license,
And don't get wise with me I'll run you in,
Now where's your registration, who owns that machine,
He wrote me up a ticket longer than a witches dream,
There's lots of things in this world I don't understand,
One of thems a doggone highway man,
one of thems a doggone highway man.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Trucker
• american music
• country and western
• 1964
• Marty Robbins
• automobiles
• ballad
• oldies
• Johnny Cash
• Highwayman
• classic
• C&W
• truck driving songs
• convoy
• c.w.macoll
• C.B. police chase
• American patrol cops
• Highway Patrol
• music
• rarities
• elvisTrucking
• song

[oldfolkiepad]

Thumbs up for a great story-song I'd certainly never heard before. Most enjoyable - thanks for the share!

Regards,

Paddy

[MrFolkncountry]

@oldfolkiepad Thanks Paddy, We are hoping to find exclusive seldom heard tracks for this channel, and promote fellow musicians and artists simultaneously. The Folkies and Country singers that we have met are the "salt of the earth", and are a great inspiration to us. The camaraderie here on YT is incredible. If someone had told us last year that five artists would soon be covering our songs , we wouldn`t have believed it.

Best wishes

Paul and Jim

[sherrillwallace]

What a tragic story of the life and death of Curtis Leach. I love the song. Great choice for the channel. ***** peace, Sherrill

[MrFolkncountry]

@sherrillwallace Thanks Sherrill. maybe Curtis would have been a star, we will never know. Jim is putting a lot of time in,looking for exclusive folk and country music that has never been put on youtube before. He has a great memory for songs. His dad also had a massive collection of old C&W songs.

Best Wishes

Paul and Jim

[onewomanandsomesongs]

Just love this, reminds me of the old days talking on a CB radio. What a great video! Thanks for sharing this. :) And thanks for commenting on Stumble On, the song that Nidge featured for Mystery Youtuber of the week. It's much appreciated! I'm getting ready to leave for a camping trip the rest of the week, but I just thought I'd say thanks before I go. Have a great week, Paul and Jim. :) Janet

[MrFolkncountry]

@onewomanandsomesongs Thank you Janet, that is very considerate of you. Enjoy your camping trip, and hopefully we will have some more interesting stuff for when you get back

Warm Regards

Paul and Jim

[MrFolkncountry]

Thanks Wolfgang, you are right it is a gem. If you like original country songs check my favourites or our other channel we have done 3 so far.

Regards

Paul and Jim

[FolkAndMore]

That is a great song and I like it for sure! Thanks for sharing this gem, Paul and Jim!!...Wolfgang

[MrFolkncountry]

@CaiophoneBA Thanks a lot Caio. glad you enjoyed it

Regards

Paul and jim

[CaiophoneBA]

Wooo! Sad little story. What a great medium this is to pay tribute to people! I always love a 45 on the turntable. Great job my friends! Cheers Paul and Jim!