LOST HIGHWAY by Hank Williams

LOST HIGHWAY by Hank Williams. Written by Leon Payne

"Lost Highway", often assumed to have come from Hank's pen, was written by Leon Payne...
Payne was a blind musician who worked out of Jerry Irby's nightclub in Houston and guested on the Hayride and the Opry. His original version... had been released on the Nashville-based Bullet label in October 1948.

Colin Escott, Hank Williams - The Biography, Boston, 1995, p. 98.

MYRTIE (Mrs. Leon) PAYNE:
In the early days of Leon's career, he hitchhiked from one place to another, finding jobs wherever he could. Once he was in Califonia hitchhiking to Alba, Texas, to visit his sick mother. He was unable to get a ride and finally got help from the Salvation Army. It was while he was waiting for help that he wrote this song.

Telephone interview, Dec 20, 1972; reprinted in Dorothy Horstman, Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy, New York, 1976, p. 368.

• Category

  Music

[SamAdamsMan1]

This is real country not that new pop shit they have today

[Chris Coffel]

Except modern times have made it "Just a old laptop and a case of Hamm's and a woman's lies, makes me what i am's"

[rzombi666]

I know what you mean but if it's any consolation try listening to Shooter Jennings and Hank III. It's good stuff with an old school sound.

[rzombi666]

Damn straight son. They don't make em like old Hank Sr anymore. Thank god for guys like Hank III!

[Johan Marrero]

Skin and bones? No food? lol WTH are u talking about

[jteeselink]

Hank defined the working man's blue. It's too bad that this music is nearly dead. When Merle & Willie are gone, country music will be dead. We'll always have their music!

[btbarton15]

Hank

[James Wolf]

I dont wish I was born back then there was no food, look at those people there all bones .I eat southern fried chicken every week .

[James Wolf]

Yeah that pop country dosnt get you in the gut like this old country songs.