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
Don
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While admittin' that he sang some pretty songs (and he did)
I'd heard that he'd been scandalizing me
And Lord, I knew that that was wrong (and I was)
Now I'm lookin' at it over
Something cool and feelin' fool enough to see
What I had called my brother on
[Chorus:]
Don't ever cuss that fiddle, boy
Unless you want that fiddle out of tune
That picker there in trouble, boy
Ain't nothin' but another side of you
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 songs
I found a wounded brother
Drinkin' bitterly away the afternoon
And soon enough he turned on me
Like he'd done every face in that saloon
Well, we cussed him to the ground
And said he couldn't even steal a decent song
But soon as it was spoken
We was sad enough to wish that we were wrong
[Chorus]
I know that it sounds silly
But I think that I just stole somebody's song
Don Williams? Williams... Hank Williams? Harlan?
The song Don't Cuss The Fiddle by Kris Kristofferson is a reflective piece that centers on the theme of forgiveness and brotherhood. The lyrics start with Kris admitting that he had slandered his brother as a response to hearing that his brother had been talking about him behind his back. However, instead of justifying his actions, Kris now sees the error of his ways and realizes that he had no right to accuse his brother without hearing him out first. He acknowledges that his brother was right to call him out on his behavior, and the two of them are in this journey together. Thus, forgiveness and mutual respect are essential in maintaining the bond between the two.
The chorus of the song is a metaphor for the relationship between the two brothers. The fiddle is a symbol of their relationship, and each brother is a 'picker' that plays a crucial role in creating a tune. If one 'cusses the fiddle' - insults or disrespects their relationship - it will be out of tune. They are both in trouble if they do not work together to fix it. The brothers are in this together and are partners in life's journey.
Overall, the message of Don't Cuss The Fiddle is to emphasize the importance of forgiveness and empathy in relationships. Instead of holding grudges and pointing fingers, it's crucial to understand the perspective of the other person and work together to mend broken relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I scandalized my brother
I spoke ill of my brother
While admittin' that he sang some pretty songs (and he did)
Although I admitted that my brother sang well
I'd heard that he'd been scandalizing me
I heard that my brother was also speaking ill of me
And Lord, I knew that that was wrong (and I was)
I realized that what my brother was doing was also wrong
Now I'm lookin' at it over
Now I'm reassessing the situation
Something cool and feelin' fool enough to see
Feeling calm enough to see the foolishness of my actions
What I had called my brother on
What I criticized my brother for
Now he had every right to call on me
My brother had every reason to criticize me too
Don't ever cuss that fiddle, boy
Don't criticize other people's talents
Unless you want that fiddle out of tune
Unless you want to ruin the music
That picker there in trouble, boy
The person playing that instrument is also in trouble
Ain't nothin' but another side of you
That person is just like you in some ways
If we ever get to heaven, boys
If we ever make it to a better place
It ain't because we ain't done nothin' wrong
It's not because we didn't make mistakes
We're in this gig together
We are all in this life together
So let's settle down and steal each other's songs
Let's learn from each other and work together
I found a wounded brother
I found a hurt family member
Drinkin' bitterly away the afternoon
Bothered and drinking alone for hours
And soon enough he turned on me
He became angry with me
Like he'd done every face in that saloon
Just like he had fought with many others there
Well, we cussed him to the ground
We insulted him so much he fell down
And said he couldn't even steal a decent song
We said he couldn't even perform well
But soon as it was spoken
As soon as we said it
We was sad enough to wish that we were wrong
We realized the mistake we made and felt sorrowful
I know that it sounds silly
I understand that this may be hard to believe
But I think that I just stole somebody's song
I think that I may have copied someone else's work
Don Williams? Williams... Hank Williams? Harlan?
I'm not sure who it was, maybe Don Williams, Hank Williams or Harlan
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RaVenDaWn999
we are the new warriors, lets get workin' it....
"HUMANITY AS CURRENCY"
Dreams
shatter like delicate glass.
Everything
must come to pass.
Why
should it matter?
What
does it matter?
I am
neck deep in this lunacy;
Conspiracy
of many
United
secretive consortiums.
Many
people kill and die when that engine hums.
...Maybe
it’s just my vanity.
My
choice was either shock or full insanity.
Hah! “From sea to shiny sea…”
When
my humanity
Is
used as currency.
Humanity
is only currency.
Bashed,
trashed and cashed in.
I am
thankful for all of what I’ve seen.
No
worries about what might have been.
Stay
clear; hold dearly the miracle we live within.
Yet
mandate states we are to eliminate jobs & kick some union ass.
The
opportunities are beyond treaties, we can’t let this pass!
Build
the arsenals. Build the armies up! Yuppers!
Mandate
states we separate the working class
Into
unsavory spun slavery
And a
million last suppers. Suppers.
Thrilled,
chilled and billed. They even
Thought
they killed me once.
Coldly
efficient. I’ll make out when I take out my assassins.
I’ll
make out when I take out my assassins.
Always
thin in the balance of prayer and prey.
Yet
it is not me, no, it is destiny who hunts.
Arms
the children with burning rage and loaded guns.
Some
DC pork pie rags. More folded flags for our lost sons.
Humanity
is only a commodity!
Humanity
is only a luxury!
Humanity
is used as currency!
It
doesn’t matter! Why should it matter?!?
I am
back to the fringes of this lunacy.
Conspiracy
of Neros to hault John Gaults.
Progress
gets impatient while
we
increase the funding for our faults.
Ahhhh…
maybe it’s just my damned vanity.
Choice
was shock or full blown insanity.
Hah!
“What will be, will be.”
When
our humanity is merely currency.
Yes,
humanity as currency.
@originalfunkyfry
skid lee, I understand where you're coming from, but the USA has never been and will never be the shining model of democracy. For example, the questions you ask:
"Was it foreign intervention at the whim of corporate greed?"
Not corporate greed, per se, but there was certainly foreign intervention in the form of French soldiers and generals who came over here to fight with the rebels. And there was certainly some level of greed involved, at least on the part of some participants, because it's no coincidence that so many of the "founding fathers" were also the richest and most powerful people in the colonies at that point. You can read, for example, Robert Harvey's recent book on the American Revolution "A Few Bloody Noses", which examines the way that the colonies' ruling class co-opted a people's revolution and turned it into something that merely re-invented the status-quo but did not threaten their power.
"Was it the targeting for death an individual ethnic group?"
Yes, the founding of the United States, and not just the colonies themselves, was based on racist genocidal motives, against Africans but especially against the Native Americans. Again I can refer to Harvey or to other modern historians, but the reasons for the revolution had a lot less to do with taxes on tea or with issues like stationing soldiers in private homes than it had to do with the British agreement after the French-Indian War which would have prohibited the colonists from taking any more land from the Native population west of the Appalachians.
"IF these ARE the goals and deeds of a Great Society we have a lot of work to do to right that wrong."
Indeed.
@David-vu1sq
Looking through the comments posted it shows how relevant this song has been for so long. This demonstrates just how good this song is
@Mickyboi1
The most criminally underrated song writer of all time ✍️
@Ben-nl3gb
This song's about to get a lot more relevant
@aldob9881
Very true mate!
@8_barsoftheTruthwilldo
And even more so now in 2021
@theutilizer
Agreed.
@aldob9881
@@theutilizer it's getting hard to listen to their lies. Punks
@RAEchelRunning
and 2022 tomarrow election day!! Prays up tobacco down - for the good of the world - thank you Kris!!!! Big LOVE!
@annemilne100
Got to be one of the finest songwriters ever 💋🏴🏴🏴
@shawnwhitmore6203
Hats off.
This song has always been relevant.
Kris Krisstofferson is an American icon. Representing the wise, the kinder, the open minded, freedom loving rebel with many causes, and there are very few left like him.
With great respect, I don't know why me, either. But I will stand and face the enemy. Even if its us. Yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow is outta sight.
Thank you Kris, for being the principled individual you have always been, and for still remaining the same!