In 1985, Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash in forming the country music supergroup The Highwaymen, and formed a key creative force in the outlaw country music movement that eschewed the Nashville music machine in favor of independent songwriting and producing. In 2004, Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. As an actor, he is known for his roles in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), Blume in Love (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), A Star Is Born (1976) (which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor), Convoy (1978), Heaven's Gate (1980) and Blade (1998).
Kristofferson has said that he would like the first three lines of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on the Wire" on his tombstone:
Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
Aquila Del Norte
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard there was a baby
Somebody heard her crying
Weaker through the night
They beat her mama bloody
And shot her with her daddy
It was the terror from above
Down in nicaragua
Running from the shadows
Striking holy terror
Deeper in the heart
You believe in freedom
And you believe in justice
But not in nicaragua
Not in nicaragua
Aguila del norte
We can see your power
And the beauty of your freedom
What is in your heart ?
You believe in honor
And you believe in jesus
But not in nicaragua
Not in nicaragua
The song "Aguila Del Norte" by Kris Kristofferson is a political and social commentary, condemning the violence and terror inflicted upon the people of Nicaragua by the northern eagle or "El Aguila Del Norte". There is a tragic story in the lyrics of a family being terrorized, with the parents brutally beaten and murdered while their baby wailed. The song implies that these atrocities are being committed by a foreign entity, represented by the eagle. The song questions strong ideologies of freedom and justice, which the eagle supposedly stands for, while depicting a brutal reality in which these concepts are violated with impunity.
Kristofferson's lyrics draw attention to the hypocrisy of the United States’ foreign policy, particularly in Central America, where neighbouring countries were supported with military aid in the fight against communism with little regard for the well-being of the people they were purported to be helping. Kristofferson seems to suggest that this “help” was actually detrimental to the people of Nicaragua and to the larger concept of freedom, justice and democracy that the US espoused.
Line by Line Meaning
Did anybody see them ?
Were there any witnesses present to the events that transpired?
I heard there was a baby
Reports suggest that there was an infant present at the scene.
Somebody heard her crying
There were witnesses who attest to hearing the baby's cries.
Weaker through the night
The cries grew weaker as time passed.
They beat her mama bloody
The mother was severely beaten by the attackers.
And shot her with her daddy
The father was shot by the attackers.
It was the terror from above
The attack was carried out from the air by an intimidating and powerful entity.
El aguila del norte
This entity is known as the 'Eagle of the North'.
Down in nicaragua
These events are taking place in Nicaragua.
Running from the shadows
The people are afraid and trying to flee from danger.
Striking holy terror
The attackers are instilling an intense fear and horror in their victims.
Deeper in the heart
The victims' suffering is not just physical, but emotional and psychological as well.
You believe in freedom
The listener is someone who believes in and supports freedom.
And you believe in justice
The listener also believes in justice and fairness.
But not in nicaragua
However, these values are not being upheld in Nicaragua.
Aguila del norte
The 'Eagle of the North' is a powerful and menacing entity.
We can see your power
The entity's strength and ability to cause harm are clear and visible.
And the beauty of your freedom
Although the entity's actions are brutal, it is possible to admire its ability to operate without restraint.
What is in your heart ?
What motivates the entity to carry out such atrocities?
You believe in honor
The entity may have a code of ethics or values that it adheres to.
And you believe in jesus
The entity may claim to have religious beliefs or motivations for its actions.
But not in nicaragua
Regardless of any professed beliefs, the entity's actions in Nicaragua demonstrate a lack of honor and respect for human life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Simone Devlin
Nicaragua is something to sing about and KK is the only singer/ songwriter I know who can make a difference.He does not mince words.Outstanding performance and his Spanish accent is impeccable!
Alex Zambra
Great song. The politics could never understand.
Nita Lay
Love the way he "hisses" the words "justice" and "Jesus". The rage at the hypocrisy is palpable.