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
Holy Creation
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many answers
So many reasons
Most of them wrong
Facing the future
With the faith of my father
I let a stranger
And right there before me
I saw it happen
There's no denying
Nothing's the same
The truth is a highway
Leading to freedom
All is forgiven
Love is to blame
[Chorus]
And I've seen him hold her
With his head on her shoulder
Singing her love songs
Soft as her smile
Tender affection
Under the rainbow
Holy Creation
Mother and child
I know the story
I read the papers
I see the anger
I feel it too
But when I see the wonder
In the smiles of my children
It reminds me of dreams
Worth coming true
[Chorus]
Kris Kristofferson's song Holy Creation is a reflective piece about the complex nature of life and the many questions and answers that come along with it. The song begins with Kristofferson acknowledging the vast amount of inquiries and solutions that exist in the world, but he points out that many are erroneous. With the "faith of his father," he lets a stranger into his home, perhaps a metaphor for allowing new ideas and experiences to enter his life. In doing so, he witnesses something transformative that forever changes his perspective, as he proclaims that "nothing's the same."
Kristofferson then asserts that the truth is a "highway leading to freedom," and love is the reason for forgiveness. He sings about seeing a man hold a woman with his head on her shoulder, sharing tender affection "under the rainbow," which represents hope and beauty. He describes this connection between a mother and child as a "holy creation," which suggests that there is something sacred and divine about the bond between parent and offspring. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing the beauty and purity of this relationship.
The song touches on various themes such as the complexity of life, the importance of new experiences, the transformative power of love, and the beauty of parenthood. Overall, Holy Creation is a thoughtful and introspective piece that encourages the listener to embrace life's complexities and appreciate the beauty in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
So many questions
There are plenty of things in this world that people seek to understand.
So many answers
For all the questions asked, there are just as many answers given.
So many reasons
People often attempt to justify their beliefs or actions with varying arguments.
Most of them wrong
Despite the many reasons given, most of them may not be correct.
Facing the future
Preparing for what is to come.
With the faith of my father
Trusting in beliefs passed down from his father.
I let a stranger
Kris Kristofferson opened his doors to a person unknown to him.
Into my home
He welcomed the stranger in and shared his space.
And right there before me
While in his own home, Kris witnessed something significant occur.
I saw it happen
He observed something with his own eyes.
There's no denying
It is irrefutable.
Nothing's the same
This new information alters everything as he knows it.
The truth is a highway
The path to the truth is constant and dependable.
Leading to freedom
The truth can result in emancipation.
All is forgiven
With the revealed truth, all is absolved.
Love is to blame
Love is often the cause of people's actions, even if they lead them down negative paths.
[Chorus]
Repeating the song's chorus following each verse.
And I've seen him hold her
Kris has witnessed a man holding a woman.
With his head on her shoulder
The man seemed comfortable resting his head on the woman's shoulder.
Singing her love songs
He may have even been serenading her with romantic music.
Soft as her smile
The music matched the gentle expression on her face.
Tender affection
The actions between the couple were caring and loving.
Under the rainbow
This intimate moment occurred in a positive atmosphere.
Holy Creation
The song title; all forms of human connections and creation of life are holy and wonderful.
Mother and child
This moment was shared between a mother and her child.
I know the story
Kris is aware of the details of a particular event.
I read the papers
He has read news coverage of it in print-media.
I see the anger
He is aware of public backlash and resentment towards what has happened.
I feel it too
He personally understands the frustration and disappointment with the event.
But when I see the wonder
Despite the negativity, Kris still chooses to see the positivity.
In the smiles of my children
He finds hope and gratitude in the joyous expressions of his own offspring.
It reminds me of dreams
Their happiness prompts Kris to reminisce on his own aspirations and wishes.
Worth coming true
He believes it is worthwhile to pursue and achieve one's own dreams.
[Chorus]
Closing off the song with the final chorus.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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