Introduction
“The King Is Gone (So Are You)” by the Highwaymen is a mournful tribute to Elvis Presley, a country music legend who died in 1977. The song was released in 1990 on the group’s second album, American Outlaws, and quickly became a fan favorite.
The song begins with a slow, haunting melody, accompanied by Waylon Jennings’s deep, gravelly voice. He sings of Elvis’s rise to fame, his impact on popular culture, and his untimely death. The other members of the group, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson, join in on the chorus, their voices echoing Jennings’s words.
The lyrics of the song are both nostalgic and poignant. They evoke memories of Elvis’s music and his charismatic personality, while also acknowledging the loss of a cultural icon. The song is a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of Elvis Presley, and a testament to the power of music to capture the human experience.
The Highwaymen were a supergroup of country music legends, formed in 1985. The group was made up of four of the most influential figures in country music history: Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson. They released two albums together, Highwaymen (1985) and American Outlaws (1990), and toured extensively.
“The King Is Gone (So Are You)” is one of the most popular and enduring songs from the Highwaymen’s catalog. It has been covered by many artists, including Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Alan Jackson. The song remains a classic of country music, and a fitting tribute to the life and career of Elvis Presley.
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