Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an American singer-songwri… Read Full Bio ↴Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are the songs "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which were hits for other artists.

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

Give It Time To Be Tender
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel the hunger you feel in your touch
Burnin' my body and soul
And it's freightnin' just wantin' somebody so much
So close to losin' control
But darlin', don't make me surrender too soon
I'm so afraid of the fall
Please give it time to be tender
And pretend that it won't hurt at all

Slowly, be gentle
Each step of the way
I've never been loved before.
Let me believe
You won't turn away
After I've opened the door
But darlin', don't make me surrender too soon
I'm so afraid of the fall
Please give it time to be tender
And pretend it won't hurt at all

Please give it time to be tender
And pretend it won't hurt at all

Overall Meaning

Kris Kristofferson's song "Give It Time to be Tender" depicts a person in a romantic situation who is torn between the desire for immediate satisfaction and the fear of getting hurt. The singer expresses how he is overwhelmed by the hunger he feels whenever his lover touches him, and how he is just one step away from losing all control. However, he is also afraid of the emotional fall that comes with being vulnerable and wants his partner to approach their relationship gently.

The singer pleads with his lover to take their time, to pretend that they won't hurt at all, and to be gentle with him as they progress in their relationship. He admits that he has never felt love before and wants to believe that his partner won't abandon him after opening up to them. However, he is still terrified of the emotional consequences of letting his guard down and surrendering control.

Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the risks and rewards of love that can accompany vulnerability. It's been performed by several well-known artists, including Tammy Wynette, Jeannie C. Riley, and Johnny Cash.

Line by Line Meaning

I feel the hunger you feel in your touch
I sense the strong desire you have when you touch me

Burnin' my body and soul
Your touch makes me feel passionate and alive

And it's freightnin' just wantin' somebody so much
Having such strong feelings for someone can be scary

So close to losin' control
I'm on the verge of losing my composure

But darlin', don't make me surrender too soon
Please don't ask me to give in to my feelings before I'm ready

I'm so afraid of the fall
I'm scared of getting hurt if I open up to you

Please give it time to be tender
Let our relationship develop slowly and gently

And pretend that it won't hurt at all
Let's make it easy for each other and avoid causing pain

Slowly, be gentle
Take things slowly and treat me with kindness

Each step of the way
At every stage of our relationship

I've never been loved before.
I've never experienced this kind of love before