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
I'll Take Any Chance I Can With You
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching love become a lie
Now we're coming to that point of no returning
Do you really want to try ?
Are the reasons or the chances any better than before ?
Are we into something more than we imagined
That we really can't afford ?
You're the biggest gamble that I've ever tried to win
Maybe more than I can stand to lose
But girl I never thought I'd ever feel this good again
More than I could dream of coming true
I'll take any chance I can with you.
The lyrics of Kris Kristofferson's song, "I'll Take Any Chance I Can With You," explore the dynamics of a relationship that has been through tough times. The first verse begins by acknowledging the bitterness and betrayal that the couple has experienced in their relationship. The second line, "Watching love become a lie," implies that the love that they once had turned into something fake, deteriorated, and ultimately ended. The third line, "Now we're coming to that point of no returning," suggests that the couple is at a critical juncture in their relationship, where they have to decide whether to give up or continue.
The chorus of the song revolves around taking chances in love. Kristofferson asks his lover, "Do you really want to try?," acknowledging that they have been through a lot, but he is willing to take a chance on them again. He wonders whether the reasons for getting back together are any better or worse than before, adding that they might not be able to afford another failure. The line, "You're the biggest gamble that I've ever tried to win," encapsulates the idea that the risks of being in a relationship with this person may be high, but he is still willing to take any chance he can with her.
In the final lines of the chorus, Kristofferson declares that he never thought he would feel this good again, and any moment with his lover is worth the risk. He feels that being with her is worth more than anything he could dream of coming true.
Line by Line Meaning
We know better it was bitter, baby
Despite knowing better, our past romance left a bitter taste in our mouths.
Watching love become a lie
We witnessed our love transforming into a lie.
Now we're coming to that point of no returning
We're approaching a situation where it may be too late to turn back.
Do you really want to try ?
Do you want to attempt to rekindle our relationship?
Are the reasons or the chances any better than before ?
Do we have better reasons or a higher probability of success than we did in the past?
Are we into something more than we imagined
Is there more depth to our relationship than we initially anticipated?
That we really can't afford ?
Is this relationship a risk that we cannot afford to take?
Does it matter anymore ?
Is the answer to whether we try again or not even significant?
You're the biggest gamble that I've ever tried to win
Our relationship is the biggest risk I've ever taken in trying to succeed.
Maybe more than I can stand to lose
The stakes are so high, that I may not be able to handle losing you again.
But girl, I never thought I'd ever feel this good again
Despite the risks, I'm thrilled at the possibility of feeling the happiness that comes with a successful relationship.
More than I could dream of coming true
I never imagined that I could experience such a sense of contentment and joy.
I'll take any chance I can with you.
Despite the risks and uncertainty, I am willing to take any opportunity available in the hopes of creating something special with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GLEN A. ARLEN CLARK, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind