Lost Highway (Duet with Willie Nelson) - Kurt Nilsen

Gulf coast highway, he worked the rails He worked the rice fields with their cold, dark wells He worked the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico The only thing we've ever owned is this old house here by the road And when he dies he says he'll catch some blackbird's wing And we'll fly away to heaven Come some sweet blue bonnet spring She walked through springtime when I was home The days were sweet, our nights were warm The seasons changed, the jobs would come The flowers fade, and this old house felt so alone When the work took me away And when she dies she says she'll catch some blackbird's wing And she will fly away to heaven Come some sweet blue bonnet spring Highway 90, the jobs are gone We tend our garden, we set the sun This is the only place on Earth blue bonnets grow And once a year they come and go At this old house here by the road And when we die we say we'll catch some blackbird's wing And we will fly away to heaven Come some sweet blue bonnet spring Yes when we die we say we'll catch some blackbird's wing And we will fly away together Come some sweet blue bonnet spring

I drove in on the four lane Where the two lane used to be The highway hummed a near forgotten tune From 1963 The year I turned 18 and set my sights And heard the highway call Now the highway's come full circle To a place I scarce recall There's a girl I still remember Whose name I can't recall I gave her what I had, but then She tried to take it all I stayed long enough to love her And then left her on the run Like a flower left to wither In that deep East Texas sun There's a place out on the highway Where I go to spend my time Where the bartenders all know me And the players are friends of mine And we light up on the brakes And talk of things that we all know But I've heard it all before And I'll hear it all again And I've heard it said The highway never ends So what about old handsome Johnny And the class of '64? Did the women all make promises When they shipped him off to war? Did his mama get the medal And did his country ever win? Well, let's drink a round to Johnny 'Cuz he died for all our sins. They're still down there in the factories You can see 'em in the mills They've sweated there for years, Lord I guess they always will. And you know they won't be leaving And I can't watch 'em die that way So in my rear view mirror I'll just watch them slip away There's a place out on the highway Where I go to spend my time Where the bartenders all know me And the players are friends of mine And we light up on the brakes And talk of things that we all know But I've heard it all before And I'll hear it all again And I've heard it said The highway never ends The highway never ends The highway never ends

Life is like a mountain railroad With an engineer that's brave We must make the run successful From the cradle to the grave Watch the curves, the hills, and tunnels Never falter, never fail Keep your hand upon the throttle And your eyes upon the rail Blessed Savior, Thou will guide us Till we reach that blissful shore Where the angels wait to join us In that land forevermore Blessed Savior, Thou will guide us Till we reach that blissful shore Where the angels wait to join us In that land forevermore...

Well, I've had a wonderful career But I think it's quite queer So I'm writing this down in a song I just couldn't resist 'Cause it's a nice little twist And I think you'll agree this is just wrong I ain't never got to sing one with Willie And I've held it inside long enough Now I ain't too proud, I'm gonna shout it out loud I ain't never got to sing one with Willie Now I've heard him with Merle, Waylon, and Cash Jones and Toby, that man is totally gracious But I'm thinking: damn, why not me? We could even sing it on TV Just like him and old Julio Iglesias I ain't never got to sing one with Willie And I've held it inside long enough Now I ain't too proud, I'm gonna shout it out loud I ain't never got to sing one with Willie We've traveled back and forth Up and down all the highways Wherever our big buses can go But I think that it's great To finally sing one with Strait And our friends will all love it, I know (But I'm loving it, too, Willie) I finally get to sing one with Strait Well, I think that it's been long enough I'm mighty proud, just listen to the crowd I finally got to sing one with George Strait Look at me now, I'm singing with Willie Thank you, man, you just made my career Well, you shoulda said something, Strait I always thought we would sound great And I finally got to sing one with old George Yeah, I am really proud So I'm shouting it out loud I finally got to sing one With old George With old Willie

You have been so good for me I will change my ways for you You can call and I'll come running You know my feelings are warm and true You've got me wrapped around your finger I'd surrender it all to you You got the power I've got the need I hate to say it I'm down on my knees (So don't you) Push Push You break me in your stride Push Push You'll cut me down to size Push Push Please don't throw the dice Push Push Push Push I'll be the angel, I'll be the saint I will walk a thin line for you You pull my strings, I'll feel the strain Cut me loose, I will break the chain (Don't you) Push Push You break me in your stride Push Push You'll cut me down to size Push Push Please don't throw the dice Push Push Push Push Though now I'm on your side Sometimes you'll let me stay away To be on my own I'd raise myself to meet your needs But I'm still on your side Push Push (Baby don't you) Push Push You break me in your stride Push Push You'll cut me down to size Push Push Please don't throw the dice Push Push You know I'm on your side Push Push You break me in your stride Push Push You'll cut me down to size Push Push Please don't throw the dice Push Push You know I'm on your side