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
Getting By High and Strange
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Patchin' up the pieces of my tangled mind diggin' somethin' different every day yeah
Soon as I was better I was movin' on gettin' it together gettin' good and gone
And by (gettin' by) high (good and high) and strange (gonna get some strange)
New ain't nothin' but a state of mind
Keeps a man from missin' what he left behind
I'll take anything that I can find anyhow anywhere anyway anytime
Gettin' by (gettin' by) high (good and high) and strange (gonna get some strange)
New ain't nothin' but a state of mind
(Gettin' by good and high) and strange (gonna get some strange)
The song "Getting By High and Strange" by Kris Kristofferson talks about his journey from LA to New York City in search of something different. He describes how he was able to patch up his mind and move on to something new every day. The lyrics depict Kristofferson's restless spirit and his willingness to take risks in search of something that speaks to him. He reminds listeners that 'new' is a state of mind and it's important to keep moving forward and not get stuck in the past.
The lines "New ain't nothing but a state of mind, Keeps a man from missing what he left behind" are particularly poignant as they remind us that sometimes we need to leave things behind to find something new. He talks about his willingness to take anything he can find, anywhere he can find it, and how he'll keep searching as long as he's able to.
Overall, the song speaks to the human desire for change and the courage it takes to leave the familiar behind and embrace the new. It's an ode to risk-taking and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
New York City was a stich in time when I stood all I could of LA
I left Los Angeles when I couldn't take it anymore and went to New York City, hoping for a change.
Patchin' up the pieces of my tangled mind diggin' somethin' different every day yeah
I'm trying to fix my messed up mind by experimenting with different things every day.
Soon as I was better I was movin' on gettin' it together gettin' good and gone
As soon as I felt better, I left and tried to get my life together by moving on.
And by (gettin' by) high (good and high) and strange (gonna get some strange)
I distract myself from my problems by getting high and having random experiences.
New ain't nothin' but a state of mind
The concept of 'new' is simply a matter of perception, and can be different for everyone.
Keeps a man from missin' what he left behind
Focusing on what's new can prevent someone from feeling nostalgia for what they've left behind.
I'll take anything that I can find anyhow anywhere anyway anytime
I'll try anything and go anywhere, without any specific preferences or restrictions.
I'll keep livin' till the day I die as long as I can get it up for one more try
As long as I can still push myself to try new things and have new experiences, I'll keep living.
Gettin' by (gettin' by) high (good and high) and strange (gonna get some strange)
I continue to distract myself from reality by getting high and having unusual experiences.
New ain't nothin' but a state of mind
Reiterating that the concept of 'new' is subjective and based on individual perspective.
(Gettin' by good and high) and strange (gonna get some strange)
Emphasizing that I am still living my life this way, and that it is still working for me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind