Posted on 06/23/2024 6:12:45 AM PDT by Ezekiel
On this day, June 22, 2024, we celebrate the extraordinary life and multifaceted career of Kris Kristofferson, a true legend whose influence has woven itself into the very fabric of American music and cinema. Born in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson’s journey from Rhodes Scholar to country music outlaw and Hollywood star is a saga of artistic rebellion, heartfelt storytelling, and a relentless pursuit of authenticity.
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The Songs that Define a Legend
To distill Kris Kristofferson’s musical contributions to just ten songs is no small feat, but here we go, each one a masterpiece in its own right:
•"Me and Bobby McGee" - A tale of love, loss, and the open road, this song captures the bittersweet essence of freedom.
•"Help Me Make It Through the Night" - A candid plea for companionship, this song’s simplicity is its strength.
•"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" - Kristofferson’s vivid portrayal of a hungover Sunday morning resonates with raw honesty.
•"For the Good Times" - A melancholy reflection on a fading relationship, rich with emotional depth.
•"Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" - A poetic tribute to a love so profound, it remains unparalleled.
•"The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" - An ode to the dreamers and wanderers, this song is a nod to those who live life on their own terms.
•"Why Me" - A deeply personal gospel number that reveals Kristofferson’s spiritual side.
•"To Beat the Devil" - A story of struggle and resilience, it’s an anthem for the downtrodden and the defiant.
•"Jody and the Kid" - A tender narrative of a father-daughter relationship that’s both heartwarming and poignant.
•"Silver Tongued Devil and I" - A self-reflective piece that explores the duality of human nature with poetic grace.
(Excerpt) Read more at gratefulweb.com ...
If we ever get to heaven boys
It ain't because we ain't done nothin' wrong
We're in this gig together
So let's settle down and steal each other's song.
Wasn’t he a born again Christian?
I heard he was vain.
I remember him on a Sunday talk show in the 80’s. He compared the Russian genocide in Afghanistan to our support for the Contras in Nicaragua. Couldn’t believe it. He’s a Rhodes scholar I do believe.
The truth is out there somewhere.
Some of my fave songs by him. Bobby McGhee, For the Good Times, Sunday am coming down & Help me Make it through the night. Very talented man.
There’s certianly been some odd cognitive disconnects.
Like with Jesus and Che, mixed into the same bag of revolutionaries.
Well, that’s often the way with artists. Not everything is a stroke of genius.
My favorite. “To Beat the Devil”. Wow.
Back in the early 70s, my boyfriend was working on the oil platforms in Louisiana. Kris was their helicopter pilot for a bit.
I remember him as The Rubber Duck. We got ourselves a convoy.🦆🚚🚛🚓
ISWYDT 🙂
•"Why Me" - A deeply personal gospel number that reveals Kristofferson’s spiritual side.
The Highwaymen - Why Me (American Outlaws: Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1990)
Had to.
He wss in Flashpoint (1984) with Treat Williams and was an interesting movie IMO. Touched on the JFK assassination.
He was also in Big Top Pee-wee (1988)......go figure. 😏
A Kristofferson song sung by Johnny Cash that Christians and many people who have lived hard should listen to.
Johnny Cash live - Sunday Morning Coming Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KqM0xZQVpE
*There’s certainly been some odd cognitive disconnects.
Like with Jesus and Che, mixed into the same bag of revolutionaries.
Well, that’s often the way with artists. Not everything is a stroke of genius.*
Fascinating. Perhaps they are in their own plane(plateau) and don’t see things in enough detail but they can sure dismiss us.
Jack London and Orwell were perhaps the same way but saw the light at the end. This artist won’t. Doesn’t mean he’s wrong. If he was one of us he’d be ganged up on by that crowd.
This version of 'Loving her was Easier' is sure worth Willie's riff with Trigger (2:45), taking the song and the guitar to new heights, and Kris' reaction ("That's my song!"):
Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) (American Outlaws: Live at Nas...
I hope he is doing well. His recounting of coming to Christ is on the net. He describes his acceptance at a small church and he did say he accepted God’s forgiveness. He describes as a religious experience. He doesn’t say much after that. The song he wrote, “Why me Lord” came from that experience. He didn’t seem to recount how much of his life changed after his acceptance of Jesus’ forgiveness.
All art is political.
Music sooths the savage beast.
Conclusion: We’re in deep doo doo. Look at how BJ and the Kenyan were able to woo women to their side.
His lyrics alone, at times, prove a deep spiritual connection. His song “Help Me Make It Through The Night” is a very simple prayer to God. He reveals human weakness that caused the pain and knows tomorrow has yet to come.
Kris is a Rhodes Scholar.
Looks like he is a born again Christian.
https://yehudafm.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/kris-kristofferson-salvation-testimony/
At the end of the day and the end of life, that’s all that matters.
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