Ricky Skaggs - Highway 40 Blues Lyrics






Well, these Highway Forty blues,
I've walked holes in both my shoes.
Counted the days since I've been gone,
And I'd love to see the lights of home.

Wasted time and money too;
Squandered youth in search of truth.
But in the end I had to lose,
Lord above, I've paid my dues.
Got the Highway Forty blues.

The highway called when I was young,
Told me lies of things to come.
Fame and fortune lies ahead!
That's what the billboard lights had said.

Shattered dreams, my mind is numb,
My money's gone, stick out my thumb.
My eyes are filled with bitter tears,
Lord, I ain't been home in years.
Got the Highway Forty blues.

You know, I've rambled all around,
Like a rolling stone, from town to town.
Met pretty girls I have to say,
But none of them could make me stay.

Well, I've played the music halls and bars,
Had fancy clothes and big fine cars:
Things a country boy can't use,
Dixieland I sure miss you.
Got the Highway Forty blues...





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Ricky Skaggs Highway 40 Blues Comments
  1. A.... W....

    Wow, thank you so much for sharing this one from the Brilliant Ricky Skaggs, it's a great song and I LOVE IT !!!

  2. a.... ....

    they call this oldies

  3. T.... C....

    As im reaching my 40s

  4. J.... G....

    Still listening to it in 2019-2020 love this song

  5. L.... N....

    Thanks for sharing a great song from the spring of 1982, good memories!

  6. B.... A....

    My favorite Ricky Skaggs song. Love that tele pickin by Ray Flack.

  7. S.... D....

    This music still sounds as good as it always has. It never lost its touch

  8. l.... ....

    Ray Flack, Bruce Bouton, Ricky, just flat pick the devil out of this one !

  9. B.... B....

    Lived near hwy 40 between new Franklin and Columbia

  10. M.... F....

    Ricky Skaggs one of the most talented performers of country music I seen a YouTube video when he was 6 years old it was playing with Earl scrubs and Lester Flats it was pretty awesome Benny music Ricky does he's got my thumbs up he keeps it traditional thanks Ricky for all the good music and yes I've had the highway 40 Blues myself LOL

  11. S.... 3....

    this song does not get enough recognition

  12. b.... w....

    When I drove for C&C trucking out  Chattanooga, Tn. I've put a lot of miles on I-40 running  from Cattanooga  to Califonria and back.  THose were the good old days

  13. b.... w....

    Artist    Ricky Skaggs      Album    Super Hits      Licensed to YouTube by    SME (on behalf of Epic/Nashville); UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, CMRRA, LatinAutor - UMPG, UMPG Publishing

  14. B.... A....

    YEAH highway 40 blues. NOT I 40 BLUES.

    B.... A....

    Im no profesional !!! I can only use pics i can find!!! If you dont like it LEAVE DONT WATCH !!!

  15. s.... ....

    this a tremendously well choreographed song. amazing....

  16. G.... B....

    I've seen him twice in the 80s
    I'd pay 100 $ today

    G.... B....

    Me too! I saw him twice in the 80's also! Fort Dodge, IA and Ames, IA!

    G.... B....

    He's always been awesome but better with age. Still flat out pick like crazy

  17. M.... L....

    Awesome song thanks Have a great week end

  18. D.... R....

    In the mid 70’s, I use to join in with some living room picking with a character, called Larry Cordell, in Eastern Kentucky. Longtime great friend, and neighbor of Ricky Skaggs. He is the songwriter, who at the time was living on Highway 40 in Martin County, Ky. And as he says, he wrote it at that time, playing in a bar band, in Hazard KY. I didn’t think he had holes, in both his shoes, I thought with what we were playing at the time, we were riding on the back seat of a Greyhound Bus, going down Hwy 41, with Dickey Betts.

  19. N.... B....

    The 40 on the video is not the highway 40. Hes singing of the highway 40 that runs from Jefferson city to Knoxville exit 380 is downtown Knox exit 407 is Gatlinburg exit 421 is the I81 split to head 59 miles to Johnson City

    N.... B....

    Actually the song isn't about Hwy 40 in Tennessee at all. It's Kentucky. The songwriter Larry Cordle said "We started playing three nights a week in Hazard, Ky. Driving the backroads from Paintsville to Hazard, there’s no good way to get there. And on one of those trips I wrote ‘Highway 40 Blues.’

  20. G.... S....

    Lonely road, two lane,rolling hills.... take the turnpike instead!

  21. D.... ....

    Every time I pull that 18 wheeler onto I40 I get the blues.

    D.... ....

    Yeah.. sad thing is you'll never see something this good be made now. Wit this new "Hick Hop" style of what they call country now... I mean this song has it all, amazing vocal artist and a sick solo comprised of not one, but three different guitars, letting you just enjoy the amazing instrument skills for a solid two minutes.

  22. d.... ....

    this slideshow is so extra lol

  23. l.... ....

    Anybody can do Highway 40 Blues, let's hear what Ricky can do with Highway 65 Blues.

  24. A.... ....

    I was working at a gas drilling site today 5-2-19 and this came on the radio. I haven’t heard this song since about 1987 it was being played during a monster truck rally for a mud bog scene. Lmao.

  25. M.... J....

    Lovin me some Ricky Skaggs today. Bluegrass... 👍

  26. K.... K....

    My most favorite song from Ricky.

  27. e.... f....

    One of the best

  28. S.... F....

    Yee-haw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. T.... ....

    That guitar solo though!! WOW!! Ray Flacke

  30. C.... R....

    I have a fond memory of being out in the California desert about 30 feet from the stage at a bluegrass festival in 1998 / 1999. As his band took a break off-stage, Ricky Scaggs alone on the stage w/guitar, and being that it was Fathers Day reminisced about his life as a father, then proceeded to sing Harry Chapin's song "Cats in the Cradle.

    C.... R....

    That's cool!

    I caught those Highway 40 blues many years ago, that's the highway that I took when I left home in Mississippi and moved to California, Northern California up in Shasta County. I'm going to be using that song as background music for a YouTube video from my vacation last summer to Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. It's be up on this, my personal YouTube channel.

  31. i.... ....

    This was a ground breaking album for bluegrass, brought it to main stream, Ricky and Ray tore it up. Dang......

  32. J.... B....

    1:42 12/10*18 shattered dreams

    J.... B....

    HEY ! are you the red hot chick at 2:31? Sure looks like you!

    J.... B....

    @wayne goff no 20yrs ago I'd say it is pretty close tho. Thanx

  33. �.... �....

    Моя любимая песня из кантри.

    �.... �....

    I understand, my friend

    �.... �....

    Probably

    �.... �....

    My Russian is basic, but he said this is his favorite song from country. I know it's one of my favorite songs.

  34. D.... T....

    Ricky Skaggs has more talent in one of his fingernails than most "artists" on the scene today. What a great guitar and mandolin player. A real giant.

    D.... T....

    Damn right !

    D.... T....

    right on the money there.

    D.... T....

    Yep..too bad he's anti Trump and pro Obama!!!!!

  35. J.... D....

    I just drove almost the entire Highway 40... from Durham, NC all the way to Flagstaff, AZ. Also, I was standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona during the trip. Great songs!

    J.... D....

    I drove the rest for you. California to Arkansas

  36. C.... M....

    This song kicks country music ass. 👍😎

  37. c.... g....

    great song along with a great video that accompanies it thank you

  38. l.... ....

    Well I took first Truck Driving job 4 wks after I turned 19 in September 1980 & well I drove so many Trucks. I ended up with AAA-COOPER 1987 until 2011 24 yrs W out a Wreck. & That's 3 million miles W out a Wreck. & Bout 4- 4-1/2 mil. All together. So it Makes me think of so many Times & Truck Driving Friends.. & All the So many Places I have been. I never thought I would miss it SO MUCH...

    l.... ....

    @Gene Jones Thank You GENE.. gee I.D.K. about Great but I did try and be Safe.. the only time I ever fliped 1 over it was Raining Bad & I was unfamiliar road & Car Stoped as water over Road so I had no time to stop so I turned the Wheel.. ended up in Water & Climbed out... Have a News paper photo of me on Truck Getting my things out. I was 20 yrs old... Ha.. so many friends didn't make it out. ! 1 in Nursing Home both legs above knees after a car merged out & Almost hit him as we pulled Doubles & Hank jerked wheel to miss them & lost control & whent in median & Guardrail caught front Axle & turned up come through the floor & cut both legs OF... he was a Millitary Medic & Behind him unknown to both was another who witnessed this & climbed into the wreck & stuck his Fingers in his Arteries & stayed with him for 2-1/2 hours as they Cut him out...! This saved his life but he Never Walked Again... Just 1 story of SO SO MANY GREAT DRIVERS ON OUR NATIONS HWYS WHO NEVER GOT ANY CREDIT FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SAFETY & COURTESY Larry E Bradley Mobile Al... THANK YOU SIR... THANK YOU...

    l.... ....

    @lbbradley55 My thanks go out to you for all that you do. God Bless!

    l.... ....

    @Gene Jones oh I should be clear. When I flipped over. I was 20 yrs old In my first yr. Gulfport MS. On a Friday Eve. Rain Coverd the Loran Rd. & That Car had stopped & I could not see it. So as I did I hit brakes & felt like it speed up... So I turned the wheel.. & missed them & landed in water & Like Hank another one of our drives who unless he has Died he lost both legs turning the wheel. & They Drove off... But I didn't even know Hank had been any Millitary Medic until his happend! Just the kind of unsung hero he was. Yea I drove 3 million miles for AAA-
    With out any Crash. Have a Great Day... Gob bless ...

    l.... ....

    SOMEBODY, up there, Loves you! The Most High! 😊

    l.... ....

    @Jeremy Wilson I sure hope 😊

  39. R.... D....

    Love this song it always takes me back to when I used hitchhike all over the place ,l left home 34 years ago , ain't been able to get back since

  40. k.... f....

    a great song about traviling

  41. D.... L....

    This is REAL country music!

  42. 6.... I....

    Damn good music

    6.... I....

    ThatGuyWithThe1969 ChevyImpala Damn straight.

  43. J.... S....

    I got those highway 40 blues too
    I also am a country man

    J.... S....

    John Smith my hubby's hwy 40 (Nashville) and I'm hwy 60 (lake Wales) and we're both longing for something long past.

  44. M.... ....

    I listen to this song on repeat.

  45. m.... ....

    I gave Ricky a ride from the airport a long time ago and i asked him "how did you come up with that mandolin solo for highway 40 blues?" and I sang him the mandolin solo HAHAHA I was young. he said "it kinda just... fell out."

  46. G.... Y....

    Hope to hear from you channel owner great song and singer rickey skaggs true friend favorite fan of rickey skaggs and real country music and singers songs prays for you hope to hear from you channel owner true fan of real country music true fan glenn Yates in pretty water sapulpa creek county Oklahoma u s a god bless you and hope to hear from you channel owner

  47. G.... Y....

    Newest hall of fame in real country music rickey skaggs great song and singer ps i sure have been there true friend friendship favorite listener Glenn Yates in pretty water sapulpa creek county Oklahoma u s a god bless you all

  48. R.... M....

    Lord Privy Seal

  49. R.... ....

    This is my cousin

  50. P.... ....

    Revisiting this song on electric guitar. Musicians Workshop with Paul Kramer.. Ricky is a smoking bluegrass player.

  51. S.... N....

    This song never gets old

    S.... N....

    i will agree with you on that

    S.... N....

    I second that!

  52. H.... ....

    love the solos!!!!

  53. L.... B....

    "Highway 40 Blues"

    Well, these Highway Forty blues,
    I've walked holes in both my shoes.
    Counted the days since I've been gone,
    And I'd love to see the lights of home.

    Wasted time and money too;
    Squandered youth in search of truth.
    But in the end I had to lose,
    Lord above, I've paid my dues.
    Got the Highway Forty blues.

    The highway called when I was young,
    Told me lies of things to come.
    Fame and fortune lies ahead!
    That's what the billboard lights had said.

    Shattered dreams, my mind is numb,
    My money's gone, stick out my thumb.
    My eyes are filled with bitter tears,
    Lord, I ain't been home in years.
    Got the Highway Forty blues.

    You know, I've rambled all around,
    Like a rolling stone, from town to town.
    Met pretty girls I have to say,
    But none of them could make me stay.

    Well, I've played the music halls and bars,
    Had fancy clothes and big fine cars:
    Things a country boy can't use, 
    Dixieland I sure miss you.
    Got the Highway Forty blues...

    Writer(s): Larry E. Cordle

  54. m.... ....

    A #1 hit for Ricky Skaggs on the Country & Western charts. It was the 661st #1 C&W song of the Rock Era.

  55. F.... D....

    Remember in 1992 Ricky did a concert in Prescott Arizona!
    I yelled out HiWay 40 Blues. He came back from the break and did this song. Hot Dog!!!!!!

  56. G.... G....

    Driving home from Vegas, after a fear & loathing in las Vegas kinda weekend... Highway 40 blues. It just hit me like a ton of bricks, going down I -40 somewhere in the middle of New Mexico & it comes on the radio, I'm living this song right now. Crazy feeling.

  57. f.... ....

    Was that Marty Stuart on the Tele? Either way that's real music

    f.... ....

    Ray Flacke was Ricky's lead guitarist on this cut.

  58. B.... V....

    "Fancy clothes and big, fine cars. Things a country boy can't use. Dixieland, I sure miss you. Got the highway 40 blues".

  59. S.... N....

    love our country, she needs it right now 8/17/2017

  60. A.... C....

    Fantástica melodía. Un legado hermoso de Ricky Skaggs para el mundo.

    Amazing music. Can't stop listening to it. I celebrate the power that music has in bringing people together. Long live Ricky Skaggs. Greetings from Mexico, amigos.

  61. b.... ....

    Back in 1983, my Mother and me went to a Christian Retreat with the Calvary Baptist Church of Portsmouth, Virginia to 'Eagle Eyre' just outside of Danville, Va... It was a long ride but, I was riding with the Youth Director and his Wife. They played sides A&B of Ricky Skaggs' "Highways and Heartaches' over and over again, the whole way there... Every time I hear his music, it takes me back! :-) Thank you Midnightryder3!

  62. T.... D....

    I've bought this album at least 4 times. Play it until the tape wears out... buy it again.

  63. S.... O....

    excelente

  64. K.... M....

    what was the song about a angle coming thur the window to take a chid, while the mom was with her as the witness. then I think it ended with childre in a choir sing Jesus loves me.
    can I get a little help.

    K.... M....

    Kelley Minix might be little Bessie.

  65. M.... M....

    Hi,

    I just came along your vid. Seems you're into country music, so please have a look on my vids too. I'm sure you will like it.

    Have a great day!
    Cheers,
    Marc

  66. D.... B....

    What ? no slide for the pedal steel?

  67. R.... M....

    When it comes to bluegrass, it don't get better than this.

  68. c.... t....

    3:02 -- How can I not recognize that? That's Kingshighway Boulevard going south approaching (what we St. Louisans still call) Highway 40 in St. Louis. That is, before that interchange was redone several years ago.

  69. D.... K....

    23 to 460 and wherever.

  70. R.... ....

    man oh man this kind if music kept me going in the 90's when i 'd drive my daughter from San Diego to visit her mom in Seattle after the divorce

  71. T.... T....

    Great song! I just uploaded the Rock-Afire Explosion version of it.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J5ZGu6IHVo

    T.... T....

    Team TinyTurtle ok

  72. K.... K....

    My favorite song done by Richard!

  73. A.... M....

    35 people wouldn't know good music if it bit them...

    A.... M....

    Anne Mott sit on my face please

    A.... M....

    Anne Mott honestly I’m just wondering how you got that # of ppl lol. Cause it’s probably more than 35

    A.... M....

    i agree they dont make great music like this anymore im glad im old enough to remember songs from great artists like this

  74. J.... M....

    Wow.. who is the girl at 2:33 she is drop dead gorgeous!

    J.... M....

    Your average Tejana.

    J.... M....

    Joshua Mills eww, that's ricki.lol

  75. i.... ....

    Thinkyouknowmusic on Facebook brought me here.

  76. Q.... M....

    And my worn shoes

  77. J.... D....

    Ray Flacke at his best; Too bad they never got along

    J.... D....

    Tell me about Flacke and Skaggs not getting along. Thank you.

  78. s.... ....

    amazing picking. just like roy clarke , earl scruggs, jerry "guitar man" reed and many other unrecognized country artists these fellas are every bit as good as rock guitar heroes. listen to roy clarke's "malaguena", you'll see.

    s.... ....

    stobbinsboy snowman!!!

  79. W.... J....

    So You're Fron Illinois?

  80. D.... W....

    Ricky hit #1 on ACC, 7-9-83. God bless ya, brother Ricky!

  81. R.... H....

    just the right progression in the use of minor chords...truly a great tribute to country music.

  82. b.... ....

    and if you really love me, help me scrape the mucus off my brain

  83. N.... J....

    Love the guitar solo. Great song

    N.... J....

    +Nigel Jarman me too. wonder who played it

    N.... J....

    +jennifur sun Think it's Ray Flacke

    N.... J....

    +Nigel Jarman ok thanks

  84. j.... s....

    does anyone know who played on his song?

    j.... s....

    +jennifur sun I remember Ray Flacke played with Ricky in those days. Bruce Bouton played pedal steel but it may have been a session guy on this tune.

    j.... s....

    +Bill Branch k probably was they don't get enough recogniztion

  85. C.... ....

    Whats the difference between country and bluegrass styles ? 
    Really great song :) greetings from france

    C.... ....

    Ricky Skagg's Highway 40 Blues is in the style of bluegrass (notice the emphasis on each musician taking a turn at the break) whereas Loretta Lynn's Coal Miner's Daughter is strictly country (all about the story and not about the musicians). 

    If you listen to some bluegrass you'll notice an inclination to observe things like "wow, that banjo player can pick" while when listening to country it's more about "what an interesting tale".

    C.... ....

    Basically

    C.... ....

    Bluegrass is an offshoot or branch of Country music. Generally considered to originate when Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt joined forces in the 1940's and modified the approach of old-time country music of that time.

  86. G.... M....

    I like it, but it's just not my type. Great job Ricky Skaggs thank you for writing your music, because of you I now like this type of music!!!!

  87. C.... J....

    The pinnacle of country music is found in the 80s/early 90s.  Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, Paul Overstreet.  These men got it.

    C.... J....

    amen to that brother!

    C.... J....

    40s/50s if you want real country.

    C.... J....

    Christopher i agree. The album "Highways & Heartaches" that this song is on, is one of my favorites. And it was a #1 selling album full of some of the best in country music.

    C.... J....

    Overstreet, one of the most underrated talents of country music. ever.

  88. C.... O....

    I agree with Gerard Geer. short song with a lot of meaning .

  89. j.... ....

    its a trucker song fo sho

  90. J.... r....

    Hey Capt.   I used to work with Rickys Fiddle/Banjo  Player for a while in Idaho. 
    I would like to hear your song.  Send it to me if you can.

    J.... r....

    +Jon r. Benson do you know who played on this song LOVE the Steel, Banjo and Drums thanks

  91. H.... C....

    Ricky skaggs best music

  92. K.... ....

    Back before Garth Brooks drove a stake through the heart of traditional country music. Now it all sounds like Eagles with a twang.

    K.... ....

    @Kibbleball The Eagles were more country than the new so-called "country" music.

    K.... ....

    Kibbleball eagles is some good shit

    K.... ....

    Frigin guy voted for Obama and Clinton lol what a joke... Him n Brad Paisley

    K.... ....

    Just to eliminate any confusion, Mr. Skaggs is a pro-life Christian who, while admitting Mr. Trump is not perfect, admitted he is a better choice than the already coronated HRC.

    K.... ....

    Kibbleball ricky skags watin for the sun to shine

  93. G.... G....

    This song needs to be a few minutes longer.

    G.... G....

    @Gerard Geer Disc jockeys will not play a song if it goes past a certain time limit which is probably 3.5 minutes.

  94. j.... s....

    love that opening guitar riff and that banjo

  95. c.... ....

    I wrote a better song call "Highway 40 Blues" and I didn't even know that this existed. Crap! (My version is better, by the way).

    c.... ....

    If I have time I will, then you and your one follower can tell me what you think.

    c.... ....

    @captainjack8319 If I have time, I will listen, and tell you what I think.

    c.... ....

    @captainjack8319 id like to check out your song. ive also written songs in which i find out there was a song named the same. i always feel my song is better.

    c.... ....

    @captainjack8319 A bold statement my friend. As someone else said, talk is cheap. I didn't see your song on your page, let's hear it!

    c.... ....

    @captainjack8319 My understanding is that you can not copy write the title of a song. I could write a song and call it "You are my sunshine" but I could not copy wright the title.

  96. S.... D....

    Walk of life Ricky, walk of life... :)

  97. M.... B....

    I met the guy who wrote this, he won so many awards from this song.