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
Hellacious Acres
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Billboards everywhere
"See hellacious acres
Your tailor made nightmare"
Traffic is backed up for miles
Attendants welcome you with devilish smiles
Steady, steady
Have your tickets ready
Go to hell
After dark
It's a sin filled city
An amusement park
It's a one way ticket to the other side
It's a Dr. Jekyll and a Mr. Hyde
See Lizzie Borden, she's one of the stars
And tricky Dicky barkin'
Flashin' you his pardon
Jack the ripper slashin' your tires
Even the devil needs money
To cover his overhead
That's why he opened hellacious acres
Or so his press agent said
Hang out with heavies
Your partners in crime
Forget the consequences, have a good time
Steady, steady
Have your tickets ready
Steady, steady
Go to hell
After dark
It's a sin filled city
An amusement park
It's a one way ticket to the other side
It's a Dr. Jekyll and a Mr. Hyde
Get down and study suspicion and doubt
At hellacious acres
Listen mischief makers
Admission's free you pay to get out
The song "Hellacious Acres" by Kris Kristofferson is a commentary on the commercialization of sin and the glamorization of violence and depravity. The lyrics describe an amusement park called "Hellacious Acres" where attendees are promised a tailor-made nightmare. The park is advertised on billboards everywhere, and traffic is backed up for miles as people flock to this sin-filled city. The attendants at the park welcome visitors with devilish smiles and urge them to have their tickets ready, as they prepare to embark on a one way ticket to the other side, where they will encounter the likes of Lizzie Borden and Jack the Ripper.
Kristofferson uses clever wordplay throughout the song to highlight the absurdity of this concept. The amusement park is described as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a place where the devil himself needs money to cover his overhead. The lyrics urge visitors to hang out with the heavies, their partners in crime, and forget about the consequences as they have a good time. The song serves as a commentary on our society's obsession with sensationalism and the allure of the dark side.
Line by Line Meaning
Look who's advertising
The singer is drawing attention to the fact that someone is promoting what appears to be an alarming place.
Billboards everywhere
The advertising for this place is widespread and ubiquitous.
"See hellacious acres
Your tailor made nightmare"
The advertisement for the place is catching and promises a customized negative experience for each customer.
Traffic is backed up for miles
The popularity of this seemingly negative place is causing traffic issues in the area.
Attendants welcome you with devilish smiles
The people working at the place are playing into the stereotypical image of the devil as a fearsome and malevolent figure.
Steady, steady
Have your tickets ready
The singer's tone is ominous, indicating that the visitor needs to be prepared for something sinister.
Steady, steady
Go to hell
The singer is directly telling the visitor that this is a journey to a hellish place.
After dark
It's a sin filled city
An amusement park
The place is a dark and sinful hotspot that provides entertainment, reminiscent of an amusement park.
It's a one way ticket to the other side
It's a Dr. Jekyll and a Mr. Hyde
The experience at hellacious acres is one that has no clear way back to normality, as it is a dualistic and transformative experience - similar to the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
See Lizzie Borden, she's one of the stars
And tricky Dicky barkin'
Flashin' you his pardon
Jack the ripper slashin' your tires
The place includes infamous murderers as its 'stars,' along with other criminals and tricksters who are willing to deceive and harm visitors.
Even the devil needs money
To cover his overhead
That's why he opened hellacious acres
Or so his press agent said
The idea that the devil needs money, like a businessman or corporation, is being used to explain the creation and marketing of the place.
Hang out with heavies
Your partners in crime
Forget the consequences, have a good time
The visitors' fellow attendees and the place itself encourage them to engage in risky and immoral behavior, promoting a disregard for consequences.
Get down and study suspicion and doubt
At hellacious acres
Listen mischief makers
Admission's free you pay to get out
The experience at hellacious acres is presented as an opportunity to indulge in negative thoughts and actions, with the admission being free but the cost to leave the place being expensive.
Lyrics Ā© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL H. WILLIAMS, KENNETH LEE ASCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kellyās Magical Realm
I love this song and Iāve watched this movie so many times! It never gets old!
Luke DaDrift1
I also love this movie i listen to the soundtrack all the time, so what did you think of Bradley Cooper's version? i thought it was krap compared to this one..lol
Tina Crouch
I saw this movie in 1976 when it was in the theaters and it's still just as great now as it was then. Kris Kristofferson was so sexy and his charisma is undeniable in this movie.
Monica Larkin
I agree
assertyourself
Oh I mustāve seen this movie many times, it first came out I was around 13 years old and hormonal. I remember thinking that this is the way real love must be. They were so uniquely different, he was bad boy rock ānā roll and she was the proper Jewish girl.
m dogg
Kris is talented in so many ways; from the Highwaymen to a Star is Born.
Hammie1957
one of the finest movies I've ever seen. Love the music.. the chemistry.. all of it..
m dogg
Kris can do it all, whether on the big screen or as a member of the Highwaymen (with Johnny, Willie and Waylon) or singing rock. A true man for all seasons.
kk
@Lisa Gordon Thank you š
Oh waitš„“
Lisa Gordon
KRIS IS ONE OF THE BEST EVER!