The song 'The Highwayman' was written by Jimmy Webb after dreaming of being a highwayman chased
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highwayman_%28song%29The singer tells of a life as a Highwayman, then a sailor, a dam builder and finally a starship pilot
Jimmy Webb performs it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LmD0TE41Xkthe version I first heard was when Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, & Willie Nelson sang it. I was shocked they let Nelson sing "The bastards hung me in the spring of '25" back in the 80s - here is a video of that version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VST2KKIYn50&feature=relateda site that posted the lyrics to the second version which is slightly different
http://mysticwicks.com/archive/index.php/t-161427.htmlanother country song, or actually series of songs, imply reincarnation - Marty Robbins 'El Paso' Trilogy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Paso_%28song%29The first song tells of a cowboy in love with a girl who worked at a cantina that killed another man in a jealous fit, flees, and then comes back to see her again even though he knows it means his death. The second song is on the young woman's life, the third told from Marty Robbin's point of view flying over el paso and knowing where it all happened...
El Paso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T9OeN3t37Y lyrics
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/robbins-marty/el-paso-11889.htmlFeleena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryzIX09s2o4 Lyrics
http://www.lyrics007.com/Marty%20Robbins%20Lyrics/Feleena%20%28From%20El%20Paso%29%20Lyrics.htmlEl Paso City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz7vliYMgKo lyrics
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/robbins-marty/el-paso-city-2415.html