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've Got to Have You
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Shyly moving, easy as a dreamer, into my world
Then before I realized the danger
I found myself staring into your eyes
Somewhere in their colors
I saw promises of things I'd never seen before
It's all over
Holding onto, talking, saying nothing
Knowing in a moment I could lose you
Then without a warning I remember
That you trembled at the touch of my hand
Knowing when you came to me that
No one else would ever feel the same in my arms
It's all over
I've got to have you
Waking in the morning to the
Tenderness of holding you asleep in my arms
Dreaming while your hair was blowing
Softer than a whisper on my cheek
I don't know the feeling, so I don't know if it's love
But it's enough, it's enough
It's all over
I've got to have you
I just can't help it, no
I've got to have you
The lyrics of Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge's song I've Got To Have You tell a story of a love that is intense, passionate and unnerving. When the singer first sees the person they are singing to, they fall into their eyes, caught off-guard by their beauty, and the prospect of what they see as new promises that have never been seen before. The chorus is a statement of desire, an announcement that they have to have this person, regardless of whether it's love or something else. The lyrics suggest a certain element of uncertainty and nervousness in their relationship, that the singer could lose this person at any moment, and yet they still want them desperately. The lyrics convey both the exhilaration and the anxiety of new love, as well as conveying an undertone of desperation and of the urgency to hold on to the other person.
The lyrics of I've Got To Have You convey an intense emotion, and yet they remain open to interpretation. They might speak to the excitement of exploring new relationships, the fear of losing love, or the distinction between love and desire. The song emphasizes the power and unpredictability of emotions, and how they can overtake us, without us realizing it. The lyrics are also beautifully written, conveying genuinely profound emotions in a way that is both accessible and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
You came smiling softly
You entered my life with a gentle smile
Shyly moving, easy as a dreamer, into my world
You were shy, but your affable demeanor felt like you belonged in my life
Then before I realized the danger
Before I knew it, I was in too deep
I found myself staring into your eyes
I was entranced by your gaze
Somewhere in their colors
I saw something special in the way your eyes looked
I saw promises of things I'd never seen before
I felt that you could offer me something new and exciting
It's all over
There's no turning back
I've got to have you
I can't resist you anymore
Holding onto, talking, saying nothing
We were quiet, but our physical connection spoke volumes
Knowing in a moment I could lose you
I was aware of the fragility of our relationship in that moment
Then without a warning I remember
Something triggered my memory
That you trembled at the touch of my hand
I remembered the electricity I felt when I touched you
Knowing when you came to me
When you arrived in my life
That no one else would ever feel the same in my arms
I knew that no one else could provide the same comfort and intimacy that you could
Waking in the morning to the
Starting the day with
Tenderness of holding you asleep in my arms
The gentle feeling of holding you in my arms while you slept
Dreaming while your hair was blowing
Fantasizing about you while your hair blew in the wind
Softer than a whisper on my cheek
Delicate and gentle, like the touch of a whisper on my cheek
I don't know the feeling, so I don't know if it's love
I'm not sure if what I feel is love
But it's enough, it's enough
But whatever it is, it's enough to make me want you more
I just can't help it, no
I'm powerless to resist you
I've got to have you
I need you in my life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTOFFER KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind