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 May Smoke Too Much
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seat of my pants are today
Then old mother luck and all her
Daughters started duckin' me
When I finally got tired of just sittin' there
Watching my life slip away
I said I better start takin' all the living
That's a-comin' to me
[Chorus:]
Now I love too much, fight too much
Stay out late at night too much
But you bet your butt I'm going to
Live before I die
And I may smoke too much, drink too much
Every blessed thing too much
It's a low-down life, but it ain't gonna pass me by
I don't care if the world don't ever hear
The sound of my name
And old mother luck and all her daughters
Keep a-duckin' me
As long as that cat that I gotta look at when
I shave ain't ashamed
There ain't no Jody in the world
I'd ever rather be.
[Chorus:]
Now I love too much, fight too much
Stay out late at night too much
But you bet your butt I'm going to
Live before I die
And I may smoke too much, drink too much
Every blessed thing too much
It's a low-down life, but it ain't gonna pass me by
The lyrics of Kris Kristofferson's song I May Smoke Too Much speak to the theme of living fully and recklessly in the face of adversity. The US singer-songwriter poetically laments his lost opportunities and the streak of bad luck he's encountered, but then resolves to make the most of his life in the present. Kristofferson begins by lamenting the contrast between his former glory and his current state, using a colorful image of his shiny past versus his dirty, lived-in pants. He then shifts to describing how he purposefully began living with gusto, both to defy the bad fortune he's experienced and to seize the opportunities he used to let pass him by.
In the chorus, Kristofferson describes himself as a sort of anti-hero, engaging in activities that others might consider excessive or risky, such as drinking, smoking, fighting, and staying out all night. Despite this hedonism, he insists that he is committed to living every moment of his life, no matter how tough or unfair it seems. The final lines drive home this message, as he insists that he would not trade his life for anyone else's, regardless of their more favorable circumstances.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the power of personal resilience, creativity, and self-acceptance in the face of obstacles. Kristofferson acknowledges that fortune may not always smile upon us, but he encourages his listeners to keep taking risks, pursuing their passions, and living on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Once my future was shiny as the Seat of my pants are today
My future was once bright, but now it is dull and unremarkable.
Then old mother luck and all her Daughters started duckin' me
Luck has been avoiding me and I haven't been successful.
When I finally got tired of just sittin' there Watching my life slip away
I got bored of living a dull life and not achieving anything.
I said I better start takin' all the living That's a-comin' to me
I decided to start living life to the fullest and take all opportunities that come my way.
[Chorus:] Now I love too much, fight too much Stay out late at night too much But you bet your butt I'm going to Live before I die And I may smoke too much, drink too much Every blessed thing too much It's a low-down life, but it ain't gonna pass me by
I am living life to the fullest even if it means indulging in things that may not be good for me.
I don't care if the world don't ever hear The sound of my name
I am not concerned with fame or being well known.
And old mother luck and all her daughters Keep a-duckin' me
I am still not lucky even after deciding to take all opportunities.
As long as that cat that I gotta look at when I shave ain't ashamed
As long as I can confidently look at myself in the mirror, I don't care what others think.
There ain't no Jody in the world I'd ever rather be.
I am content with who I am, and I wouldn't want to be anyone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTOFFER KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Phillip Holt
I love his 🎶 music and I play it a lot through the ones who he wrote his music for.
Kine Fjellheim
I love this video as much as I love the song :-)
Kris Kisstofferson
@biggestkkfan yeah I remember that s*** too m**********
Kris Kisstofferson
@biggestkkfan f*** you big ass fat fan
biggestkkfan
Thank you, Kine!
Barbara Foster
I love this silly thing ! Kris can't do anything wrong.
Barbara Foster
Me too.
kathy haggerty
Soooooo right you are - Kris is the best songwriter ever! His lyrics make me laugh, cry, hope, pray, curse, and I have been a huge fan since 1970.
Alice flores e pedras preciosas
AMO DE PAIXÃO ,,
Nilza Rodrigues
Maravilhoso....