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
Loving Arms
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one who said that he'd rather roam
The one who said he'd rather be alone
If you could only see me now
If I could hold you now
Just for a moment if I could make you mine
Just for a while turn back the hands of time
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain
Taking any comfort that I can
Looking back and longing for the freedom of my chains
Lying in your loving arms again
If you could hear me now (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Singing somewhere through a lonely night (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Dreaming of the arms that held me tight (ah, ah, ah, ah)
If you could only hear me now
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain
Taking any comfort that I can
Looking back and longing for the freedom of my chains
Lying in your loving arms again
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The lyrics of "Loving Arms" convey an intense longing for the comfort of a lost love. The singer's tone is full of regret as they imagine the possibility of holding their beloved once again. The verses are built upon the contrasts between past and present, freedom and confinement, solitude and togetherness.
The first verse employs a hypothetical "if" to contrast the singer's current state with their past attitude towards love and relationships. They admit to having been too proud to admit their need for someone else's love and company in the past, but now they find themselves yearning for the very thing they had rejected.
The second verse uses the same "if" construction to create a wishful scenario in which time is turned back and the singer is granted another chance to hold on to their lover. The lyrics emphasize the brevity and fragility of such a moment, as the word "just" is repeated twice, heightening the sense of urgency.
The refrain ties the two verses together by evoking the heavy weight of the singer's present loneliness, as they have been "too long in the wind, too long in the rain," deprived of the physical and emotional closeness they desire. The image of chains, which represent both the prisoner's bondage and the lover's embrace, reinforces this contrast between constraint and release.
Overall, the song suggests that the romantic bond between two people can be the only thing that provides genuine comfort and fulfillment in life. The singer's longing for their lost love is palpable and poignant, as they seem to recognize the importance of what they have lost too late.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could see me now
If you could see how I've changed
The one who said that he'd rather roam
The person who once preferred to be alone and wander
The one who said he'd rather be alone
The person who once stated that they would rather be alone
If you could only see me now
If only you could see me in my current state
If I could hold you now
If only I could have you in my arms
Just for a moment if I could make you mine
Even if it were only for a short time, if I could have you as my own
Just for a while turn back the hands of time
If only I could go back in time with you
If I could only hold you now
If only I could have you in my arms
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain
I've been through a lot of hardships
Taking any comfort that I can
I'm finding comfort or solace in any way I can
Looking back and longing for the freedom of my chains
Reflecting on my past and longing to break free from my struggles
Lying in your loving arms again
Being held by you, in your arms filled with love
If you could hear me now (ah, ah, ah, ah)
If only you could hear the song that I sing
Singing somewhere through a lonely night (ah, ah, ah, ah)
I'm singing a song somewhere in the midst of my loneliness
Dreaming of the arms that held me tight (ah, ah, ah, ah)
I'm dreaming of your arms, the ones that once held me tightly
If you could only hear me now
If only you could hear the song that I sing
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The sound of humming, conveying a sense of longing and desire
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The sound of humming, conveying a sense of longing and desire
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The sound of humming, conveying a sense of longing and desire
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The sound of humming, conveying a sense of longing and desire
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The sound of humming, conveying a sense of longing and desire
Mmhmm (ah, ah, ah, ah)
The sound of humming, conveying a sense of longing and desire
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Thomas Louis Jans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chargeske6029
What man is gone?
It’s March 1, 2019
and Kris Kristofferson
is alive and well.
He’s on tour right now.
Had the pleasure of
hearing him sing
in Chicago last
year at the City Winery.
What a voice
and what a presence.
I was one table away
from the stage.
He was so gracious and
after his last
song he shook hands with
those closest around him.
So genuine.
@angelitodenilla682
this song was so popular during my hi_schooldays now i'm 73 years young was one of my favorite song and i always play it.
@sallypadilla3091
Beautiful song ever!! I remember always playing guitar and sing when i was 18 19 yrs old..now i'm 65 still love this song!❤❤❤
@eleazartimbang6333
Same here mam, my golden years of the 70's❤️🙏🎵🎶
@julietasonday7457
Same here
@helecitaganio6168
Me too,I was playing guitar in my high school days.Now I am 63
@alexmclife2261
At 72, don’t know much new sounds! Still listen to this old melodies that gives peace me of mind. Love this song
@evie00sleep68
What a beautiful song by two of the best. Lovely video. Makes me sad they give up on each other. Her Indian heritage voice was so beautiful. 🐞🎧🎼🎶🥂. Thanks for the post
@jalkianvalour
If I could hold you in my loving arms, I would surely do so each and every day 🤗💞💕🧡
And never take such a gift for granted ever 💙💜💖❤
@Lilykins
You hold my heart every day 💞💖💘🥰💙💜💓 I love you so much and always 🤍💖🔥
@DonnSeib
Amazing song by Kris & Rita. Where are these great songs now? What a perfect love song.