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
Michoacan
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Things that I seen that I couldn't be leaving behind me
Down in this hole in the ground there ain't nothing to see
But down in Michoacan, paradise waits for me
North of the border the bodies are bought and they're sold, boy
Me and a brother was caught turning green into gold
I'm gonna pay for my crime 'til the day that I'm free
A rusty car rode across the border, I was inside
I had two dogs, my red guitar and my teenage bride
We took a look at a shot in the dark and we found a home
Where the flowers bloom in Michoacan
A rusty car rode across the border, I was inside
I had two dogs, my red guitar and my teenage bride
I'm gonna clean up my act and go back to where I belong
Where the flowers bloom in Michoacan
Kris Kristofferson's "Michoacan" describes a desperate search for a better life in a land that promises paradise - Michoacan. The song tells the story of a man who wakes up in the morning with the border burning his mind. He tries to leave behind what he's seen, but it's not easy. He finds himself in a hole in the ground where there's nothing to see. However, Michoacan, a land he's heard about where flowers bloom and paradise waits, is on his mind.
He crosses the border, and together with his teenage bride, his red guitar, and two dogs, he arrives in Michoacan where they finally find a place they can call home. The song, however, also acknowledges that going north of the border isn't always a choice. The lyric "North of the border the bodies are bought and they're sold, boy" could imply that the man is fleeing violence or economic hardship; he's looking for a better life in Michoacan. Nonetheless, the character sings that he's willing to pay for his crime until he's free.
Kristofferson has spoken about how the song draws influence from his experiences as a veteran and his empathy for Mexican-Americans, who he calls "the backbone of the nation." Through the song, we get a glimpse into the journey of a person searching for a better life, finding paradise, and seeking redemption in Michoacan.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning the border was burning my mind
I woke up with the disturbing thoughts about the border crisis.
Things that I seen that I couldn't be leaving behind me
I witnessed the situations that I cannot forget and leave behind.
Down in this hole in the ground there ain't nothing to see
Where I currently am, there is nothing good or interesting around me.
But down in Michoacan, paradise waits for me
However, I know that there is a place called Michoacan, where I can find my paradise.
North of the border the bodies are bought and they're sold, boy
North of the border, people trade human lives for money.
Me and a brother was caught turning green into gold
I got caught trying to make money illegally with my brother.
I'm gonna pay for my crime 'til the day that I'm free
I know that I'll have to bear the consequences of my crime until I'm legally released.
A rusty car rode across the border, I was inside
I rode in a rusty car to cross the border.
I had two dogs, my red guitar and my teenage bride
I had my two dogs, my red guitar and my newlywed teenage wife with me.
We took a look at a shot in the dark and we found a home
We took a chance and stumbled upon a decent place to live.
Where the flowers bloom in Michoacan
Michoacan is a beautiful place where flowers bloom.
I'm gonna clean up my act and go back to where I belong
I am planning to improve myself and return to where I belong.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ATWOOD ALLEN, KIM FOWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind