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
Fallen Angel
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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We don't believe in the magic of the music anymore
And everything's older now and colder and grey
Oh, darlin' I believe there's got to be a better way.
It seems to me we've forgotten how to let our feelings show
We seem to be so much farther from the dreams we used to know
And too many more, my friend, are dying today
Listen to the fallen angels learning how to spread their wings.
How will they make it all alone?
Look into the children's laughter
Tell me what tomorrow brings for those so far away from home.
And I can say I'm not sorry for the things we tried to be
But I'm afraid what we're heading toward is up, to you and me
'Cause we got a choice, the future is ours you see
We got a chance to change today
Oh, darlin' don't you believe there's got to be a better way
'Cause we got a choice, the furture is ours you see
We got a chance to change it today.
Oh I believe together there can be a better way
Oh if we believe together we can build a better way.
In Kris Kristofferson's song "Fallen Angel," he laments the loss of the magic and passion that once existed in the world of music. He mourns the fact that people have become too preoccupied with the material and the mundane, and have forgotten how to let their emotions and feelings show. The world has become a colder and greyer place, and too many people are dying needlessly every day.
In the chorus, Kristofferson calls on the listener to "listen to the fallen angels" and learn how to spread their wings. He urges people to look into the laughter of children and imagine what tomorrow might bring for those who are not home. He reminds us all that we have a choice in how we live our lives and that the future is ours to shape.
The song ends on a hopeful note, with Kristofferson believing that if we work together, we can build a better way. The song is a passionate call to arms for everyone to remember what is truly important in life and to work towards a better and more compassionate world.
Line by Line Meaning
It's sad to see we may never be the way we were before
It's disheartening to acknowledge that we cannot attain our previous state of being.
We don't believe in the magic of the music anymore
We no longer have faith in the transformative power of music.
And everything's older now and colder and grey
The present circumstances feel dull and uninspired, lacking the vibrancy of the past.
Oh, darlin' I believe there's got to be a better way.
Despite the current state of things, I hold onto the hope that there is a better path we can take.
It seems to me we've forgotten how to let our feelings show
We appear to have lost the ability to express our emotions openly.
We seem to be so much farther from the dreams we used to know
The aspirations that once felt within reach now seem distant and unattainable.
And too many more, my friend, are dying today
The tragic loss of life is becoming all too frequent in our world.
Oh darlin' I believe there's got to be a better way.
Despite the harsh realities we face, I continue to hold onto hope for a brighter future.
Listen to the fallen angels learning how to spread their wings.
Observe those who have experienced hardship and are now navigating the process of healing.
How will they make it all alone?
How will they manage to persevere on their own?
Look into the children's laughter
Take notice of the pure and joyful expressions of youth.
Tell me what tomorrow brings for those so far away from home.
Consider the future possibilities for those who are displaced and disconnected from their homeland.
And I can say I'm not sorry for the things we tried to be
I have no regrets regarding our past attempts to achieve our goals.
But I'm afraid what we're heading toward is up to you and me
The direction in which we are heading is dependent on our own actions and decisions.
'Cause we got a choice, the future is ours you see
We possess agency over the course that lies ahead.
We got a chance to change today
We have the opportunity to alter the status quo in the present moment.
Oh, darlin' don't you believe there's got to be a better way
Let us both embrace the belief that we can achieve a more positive outcome.
'Cause we got a choice, the future is ours you see
We possess agency over the course that lies ahead.
We got a chance to change it today.
The possibility to instigate change exists in the present moment.
Oh I believe together there can be a better way
I hold onto the hope that, by working together, we can achieve a brighter future.
Oh if we believe together we can build a better way.
By uniting in our shared convictions, we can create a path toward a more positive future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, MIKE UTLEY, RITA COOLIDGE, STEPHEN BRUTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind