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
Good Christian Soldier
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He said Lord I want to be a Christian soldier just like you
And fight to build a new and better day
Now many years and miles from Oklahoma
That same young Okie boy still kneels to pray
But he don't pray to be no Christian soldier anymore
He just prays to make it through another day
And it hurts to have to watch a grown man cry
But we're playin' cards writin' home havin' lots of fun
Telling jokes and learning how to die
Now the things I've come to know seem so confusin'
It's gettin' hard to tell what's wrong from right
I can't separate the winners from the losers anymore
And I'm thinking of just giving up the fight
'Cause it's hard to be a Christian soldier when you tote a gun
And it hurts to have to watch a grown man cry
But we're playin' cards writin' home ain't we hadn't fun
Turning on and learning how to die
The song "Good Christian Soldier" by Kris Kristofferson tells the story of a young man from Oklahoma who begins his journey as a Christian soldier in the hopes of building a new and better day. He kneels to pray to God, asking to be a Christian soldier like Him. However, due to the circumstances he finds himself in, he slowly begins to lose faith in his cause. He no longer prays to be a Christian soldier, but to simply make it through another day. The young man reveals that carrying a gun makes it difficult to hold true to his Christian beliefs, as he has to witness the pain and suffering of those around him. He's struggling to understand the moral implications of war, and even ponders giving up the fight altogether.
The message of the song is powerful, as Kristofferson explores the emotional and psychological impact of war on those who are sent to fight it. It highlights the conflict between being a Christian and soldier, which can be particularly pronounced for those who are devout in their faith. The song reflects on the pain, confusion, and ultimately, the disillusionment that can come with war, particularly for those who enter it with a strong sense of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Not so long ago in Oklahoma the son of an Okie preacher knelt to pray
In the past, there was a boy in Oklahoma who was the son of a preacher. He knelt to pray.
He said Lord I want to be a Christian soldier just like you
During his prayer, he expressed his desire to be a Christian soldier like the Lord.
And fight to build a new and better day
He wanted to fight for a better future.
Now many years and miles from Oklahoma
After many years and miles away from Oklahoma,
That same young Okie boy still kneels to pray
The same boy still kneels to pray now.
But he don't pray to be no Christian soldier anymore
However, he no longer prays for being a Christian soldier.
He just prays to make it through another day
Rather, he prays for the strength to survive each day.
'Cause it's hard to be a Christian soldier when you tote a gun
It is difficult to be a Christian soldier while carrying a gun.
And it hurts to have to watch a grown man cry
It's painful to see a grown man cry.
But we're playin' cards writin' home havin' lots of fun
Despite everything, they still find ways to have fun like playing cards and writing home.
Telling jokes and learning how to die
They also learn how to cope by telling jokes and accepting the possibility of death.
Now the things I've come to know seem so confusin'
The things he has learned now seem confusing to him.
It's gettin' hard to tell what's wrong from right
It's becoming difficult for him to distinguish between right and wrong.
I can't separate the winners from the losers anymore
He's struggling to differentiate between the winners and losers.
And I'm thinking of just giving up the fight
As a result, he's considering giving up the fight altogether.
'Cause it's hard to be a Christian soldier when you tote a gun
Once again, it's reemphasized that it's hard to be a Christian soldier while carrying a gun.
And it hurts to have to watch a grown man cry
It's still heartbreaking to see an adult in tears.
But we're playin' cards writin' home ain't we hadn't fun
But they continue to find some joy in playing cards and communicating with their loved ones.
Turning on and learning how to die
They also learn to come to terms with their mortality as they continue to fight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARE, SHAVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gjg1969dm
Texas singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver wrote this song. This is one of the rare times that Kris performed a cover. Love the song and love this rendition by Kris.
MrBigwilly5013
This song is for all of our military who fought for us, especialy those who didn't make it home. I lost many friends in Nam. May God give rest and peace to their souls.
Melody Fisher
Still relevant today...such a thoughtful song...great performance by Kris Kristofferson...
Adam Brown
I hear this, I am 10 years old.....my Dad singing this and playing guitar...........I am 46 now........
Internet Personinphoenix
VIVA JESUS! LONG LIVE THE CHURCH!
René Taljaard
Awesome song! Thank you!
Kris Kristofferson
Hello Thanks for your comment and supports, your comments and constant support has brought me this far. Keep Supporting 🧡
Please send me a mail via kriskristofferson974@gmail.comp
Ron Theriault
One of my mom's favorites
John wesson
GREAT SONG MARCUS REALLY ENJOYED IT
gay reynolds
LOVE ME SOME KRIS!!!!