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
Golden Idol
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Hangin' bangles on your branches like a lonely Christmas tree.
Yeah, they've dressed you fit for killin' in your thrillin' new disguise
Nailin' artificial spangles to the diamonds in your eyes
In that golden coach that turns into a bed,
You better make it, gal, before you wake up dead.
'Cause they'll paint your burning beauty with a coat of shiny lies
And they'll blind you with their wine so you won't even realize
And you're staring in your mirror going privately insane
And that golden crown they've pushed down on your head
You better make it, gal, before you wake up dead.
Look around them golden sidewalks that you're walking on today
And you'll see that lonely gutter just a careless step away
And that altar that they're building you don't even understand
'Cause you're dazzled by the flashing of the daggers in their hands.
You'll be dancing in the darkness when their music disappears
And the jangle of your chains will be the only sound you hear
'Til your broken body's bleeding on an altar made of stone
And you've sacrificed your soul to please a world that's sick and wrong
And you never heard a single word I said.
Aww, make it, gal, before you wake up dead.
The lyrics of Kris Kristofferson's song "Golden Idol" paint a vivid picture of a woman whose identity and worth have been distorted and exploited by society. The opening lines describe how the girl the singer used to be has been turned into a Golden Idol, a representation of unrealistic beauty standards and materialism. The imagery of hanging bangles on her branches like a lonely Christmas tree signifies how she is adorned with superficial adornments that do not reflect her true self.
The lyrics continue to portray how the woman is being manipulated and objectified, being dressed in a thrilling new disguise that is meant to kill, symbolizing the destructive nature of conforming to societal expectations. The reference to artificial spangles and diamonds in her eyes highlights how she is being blinded by false glamour and materialism, losing touch with her inner self. The warning to "make it" before waking up dead suggests that she must reclaim her identity and authenticity before it's too late.
As the song progresses, it delves deeper into the woman's struggle to maintain her sense of self amidst the pressures and illusions of society. The golden coach that turns into a bed alludes to fleeting pleasures and empty promises, urging her to seize control of her destiny before it's too late. The mention of painting her burning beauty with shiny lies and blinding her with wine speaks to the ways in which she is being deceived and manipulated by external forces.
The final verses of the song present a stark warning about the consequences of losing oneself to societal expectations and superficial desires. The mention of golden sidewalks juxtaposed with a lonely gutter symbolizes the thin line between success and downfall. The image of dancing in darkness and hearing only the jangle of chains evokes a sense of entrapment and despair. Ultimately, the song urges the woman to break free from the shackles of societal norms and reclaim her autonomy before she sacrifices her soul to a sick and wrong world that values external appearances over inner truth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind