Chris Hillman (born Christopher Hillman, December 4, 1944, in Los Angeles, … Read Full Bio ↴Chris Hillman (born Christopher Hillman, December 4, 1944, in Los Angeles, California) was one of the original members of The Byrds with Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke. Hillman left the Byrds in 1968, joining Gram Parsons as a vocalist and guitarist in the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Along with Parsons, Chris Hillman was a key figure in the development of country rock, virtually defining America's most successful genre through his seminal work in the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Sooner or Later
Chris Hillman Lyrics

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She wasted so many money buying foolish things
D B7 C
I watched her sail out the window on them golden wings
B7 Em
But she can't find happiness
C D G
With a pocket full of gold
Em Am D G

There's no buried treasures in a trouble soul
G/F# Em C D G
When the sun goes down tears in her eyes
D B7 C
Tell you what she is missing in a world full of lies
B7 Em
As I reach out to hold her
C D G
And that's when I know
Em Am D G
It's a narrow hole (?) to a trouble soul
Am D Am D
Sooner or later everything turns around
Am D F Em
Sooner or later we got to pick ourselves up off of the ground
F Em A
And keep going

SOLO

G Em C D G
If I could be king could I make it alright
D B7 C
Yea I'd give her my word make her hold on tight
B7 Em C D G
But great Gold almighty just how far can I go
Em Am D G
Down the narrow hole (?) to a trouble soul
Am D Am D
Sooner or later everything turns around
Am D F Em
Sooner or later we got to pick ourselves up off of the ground
F Em
And keep going
F Em
We got to pick ourselves up off of the ground

F Em A
We got to pick ourselves up off of the ground

Overall Meaning

In Chris Hillman's song "Sooner Or Later," the lyrics tell the story of a woman who is unhappy despite her wealth, and the singer's desire to help her find happiness. The song speaks of the internal struggles and buried emotions that can plague even the wealthiest of individuals, and highlights the importance of support and emotional connection.

The first verse describes the singer's unwise spending habits, as she fritters away her money on "foolish things." The image of her "sailing out the window on them golden wings" suggests that she is living a life of extravagance and glamour, but it is clear that she is unhappy despite her riches. The chorus speaks of the difficulty of finding happiness when one's soul is troubled, even if one has a pocketful of gold. The second verse speaks of the singer's desire to help the woman find happiness and his frustration at his own limitations in doing so. The chorus is repeated, with the addition of a solo, before the final stanza repeats the opening imagery of the woman flying away on her golden wings.

The song highlights the notion that happiness cannot be bought, and that true satisfaction and contentment must be found within oneself. It also speaks of the importance of emotional connections and support systems, and the necessity of helping others when they need it.

Line by Line Meaning

She wasted so many money buying foolish things
She spent her money on meaningless purchases

I watched her sail out the window on them golden wings
She left without a care, as if on wings of gold

But she can't find happiness
Despite her wealth, she cannot find true happiness

With a pocket full of gold
She has financial wealth

There's no buried treasures in a trouble soul
Money cannot solve internal struggles

When the sun goes down tears in her eyes
She is unhappy and cries at night

Tell you what she is missing in a world full of lies
In a world of deception, she lacks something real

As I reach out to hold her
Attempting to comfort her

And that's when I know
Realizing the depth of her sadness

It's a narrow hole (?) to a trouble soul
Her internal struggles are deep and difficult to overcome

Sooner or later everything turns around
Change is inevitable