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
Little Girl Lost
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She ain't looking for a lover, she's just looking for a home
If you want more than sympathy then look for something else
Cause she's not true to anyone, not even to herself
She'll have sixteen smiling strangers who are handing her a line
While she's drawing dirty pictures on the black side of your mind
And that body she'll let anybody hold, but the devil's got her soul
Treat her gentle, she used to love me
See the little girl lost, pleading silently for help
Knowing no one understands her, she don't understand herself
She'll feed your hungry ego til you think you're quite a man
But you better count your fingers when she turns loose of your hand
Cause you're just a game she's playing any way that she can win
And you ain't about to touch her any deeper than her skin
In that body anybody can control, but the devil's got her soul
But if you take her, take her easy
Treat her gentle, she used to love me
The song "Little Girl Lost" by Kris Kristofferson is a poignant portrayal of a girl's emotional struggles to find a home and her own sense of identity in the world. The opening lines, "See the little girl lost: walking through this world alone, she ain't looking for a lover, she's just looking for a home," outline the girl's lonely journey through life. The girl is looking for a place where she belongs and can call home, not a romantic relationship. Kristofferson warns the listener that the girl is not genuine, telling them to "look for something else" if they want more than just sympathy.
The following lines paint a bleak picture of the girl's emotional state. Kristofferson describes how men pay attention to her, but the girl's mind is somewhere else, drawing "dirty pictures on the black side of your mind." Her body is not difficult to obtain, as anyone can hold her, but her soul is captured by the devil. The verse ends with an invitation to those who feel like trying to understand the girl: "But if you take her, take her easy, treat her gentle, she used to love me."
In the second verse, Kristofferson provides further warning and demonstrates the girl's manipulative tendencies. She feeds men's egos, making them feel powerful and desired, but it is all just a game for her to win. The advice remains the same, treat her gently, and don't expect to touch who she really is inside. In conclusion, the song portrays a poignant depiction of a girl who is lost, struggling to find her way home, and is trapped in a destructive cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
See the little girl lost: walking through this world alone
Observing the lonely and lost little girl who walks through life all by herself
She ain't looking for a lover, she's just looking for a home
She isn't in search of a romantic relationship, just a place she can call home
If you want more than sympathy then look for something else
If your intentions aren't just to offer sympathy then seek someone else
Cause she's not true to anyone, not even to herself
She isn't loyal to anyone, not even herself
She'll have sixteen smiling strangers who are handing her a line
She'll attract many potential suitors who will all use pick-up lines to impress her
While she's drawing dirty pictures on the black side of your mind
In the back of your mind, she's planting unsavory thoughts or ideas
And that body she'll let anybody hold, but the devil's got her soul
Although she'll allow anyone to touch her body, her soul is in the possession of the devil
But if you take her, take her easy
If you decide to pursue her, be gentle with her
Treat her gentle, she used to love me
In order to gain her affection, you need to treat her delicately as she used to be in love with the singer
See the little girl lost, pleading silently for help
The girl is silently begging for assistance as she wanders aimlessly through life
Knowing no one understands her, she don't understand herself
She feels misunderstood by everyone and isn't sure of who she is as a person
She'll feed your hungry ego til you think you're quite a man
She'll fulfill your desire for affirmation and attention until you think highly of yourself
But you better count your fingers when she turns loose of your hand
Be wary when she eventually breaks things off with you
Cause you're just a game she's playing any way that she can win
You're merely a pawn in the game she's playing to satisfy her desires and goals
And you ain't about to touch her any deeper than her skin
You won't be able to penetrate deeper than just a physical level in a relationship with her
In that body anybody can control, but the devil's got her soul
She lacks control over her physical body, and her soul has been corrupted by evil forces
But if you take her, take her easy
If you choose to pursue her romantically, remember to handle her with care
Treat her gentle, she used to love me
The key to winning her over is by treating her kindly and tenderly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind