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
Ramblin' Jack
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He’s got a face like a tumbled down shack
That’s been lived in too long to be torn down
He’s high on life and low on luck
And big on driving diesel trucks
And knows the boys that built them by the sound
Most of his lifetime he’s been wasted
And I guess the rest, Lord, he was stoned
And he’s known to lay his weary head
In some funky, unfamiliar beds
But he was only looking for a home
[Chorus]
And I know he ain’t afraid of where he’s going
And I’m sure he ain’t ashamed of where he’s been
He has paid a little piece of his soul
For every seed that he’s been sowing
And he made his own mistakes, and love, and friends
Ain’t that what matters in the end
Soulful songs and sailing ships
Put a smile upon his lips
Easy as the laughter in his eyes
And if he knew how good he’d done
Every song he ever sung
I believe he’d truly be surprised
Looking back he’s come so far
Looking at his lucky star
Somewhere, out there, rocking on the road
Risky nights and wasted days
Wild and righteous, wicked ways
Mixing up the music in his soul
[Chorus]
I got a friend named Ramblin’ Jack
The song "Ramblin' Jack" by Kris Kristofferson is about his friend named Ramblin' Jack, who is an old and rugged man with a face like a rundown shack. Despite his low luck, he lives life to the fullest and loves driving diesel trucks. Ramblin' Jack is a man who has been wasted most of his lifetime on wine and drugs, and he has spent his life looking for a home, often sleeping in unfamiliar beds. The song reflects on how Ramblin' Jack has made his own mistakes, loved, and made friends, and that's what matters in the end. He has paid a little piece of his soul for every seed he has sowed.
The chorus of the song describes Ramblin' Jack as a man who is not afraid of where he's going and not ashamed of where he's been. He has sailed on soulful songs and sailing ships, and it's easy to see the laughter in his eyes. If he knew how good he'd done, he would be surprised. Looking back on his life, he has come so far, and he is forever rocking on the road. The song talks about his risky nights and wasted days, and his wild and righteous, wicked ways in which he mixes up the music in his soul.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a friend named Ramblin’ Jack
I have a friend named Ramblin' Jack
He’s got a face like a tumbled down shack
His face has a weathered appearance
That’s been lived in too long to be torn down
His face has experienced too much to be easily changed
He’s high on life and low on luck
He has a positive outlook on life, despite experiencing some misfortunes
And big on driving diesel trucks
He enjoys driving large diesel trucks
And knows the boys that built them by the sound
He is familiar with the people who built diesel trucks from the sounds they make
Most of his lifetime he’s been wasted
He has spent much of his life in a state of drunkenness or drug use
On the wine of life he’s tasted
He has experienced the full range of life's pleasures and pains
And I guess the rest, Lord, he was stoned
And I assume that the remainder of his life, he was under the influence of drugs
And he’s known to lay his weary head
He is known to rest his tired head
In some funky, unfamiliar beds
In some strange and unaccustomed places
But he was only looking for a home
But he was just searching for a place to belong
And I know he ain’t afraid of where he’s going
And I am aware that he is not afraid of what the future holds
And I’m sure he ain’t ashamed of where he’s been
And I am confident he is not ashamed of his past experiences
He has paid a little piece of his soul
He has sacrificed a part of his soul
For every seed that he’s been sowing
For every action he has taken and its consequences
And he made his own mistakes, and love, and friends
And he has made his own errors, loved, and made friends
Ain’t that what matters in the end
Isn't that what ultimately counts
Soulful songs and sailing ships
Emotional music and ocean-going vessels
Put a smile upon his lips
Make him happy
Easy as the laughter in his eyes
As effortless as his joyful expression
And if he knew how good he’d done
If he realized how well he had lived his life
Every song he ever sung
Every tune he ever performed
I believe he’d truly be surprised
I believe he would be genuinely shocked
Looking back he’s come so far
Reflecting on his life, he has made significant progress
Looking at his lucky star
Observing his good fortune
Somewhere, out there, rocking on the road
Somewhere, out there, he is traveling on the road and playing music
Risky nights and wasted days
Nights filled with risks and days filled with wasted time
Wild and righteous, wicked ways
Unconventional, justifiable, and sometimes immoral behaviors
Mixing up the music in his soul
A blend of feelings within him that are expressed through music
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
biggestkkfan
Thank you, glad you like it. He certainly is... Great song by Kris, as the whole new album is amazingly awesome. Have a good time at the music fest and say Hello to Kris from me :-)
Romany Gunasekera
Love all his songs.
Jeanette Hammons
Love this song off of Kris's new CD. Kris continues to amaze me!! I never ever get tired of listening to his music.
Jeremy Reagan
Kris is beyond beautful I am a musician believe people you will never hear a fellow as lovely as he and Elliot so love em before their gone!
Carl Meiners
Wow! Thanks for this... The video was perfect and of course the song is too. I grew up with these guys. I appreciate the time and effort you put in to posting these videos.. I watch them like a 3 yr. old watches cartoons... Except I do it a lot more often... :) Merry Christmas Kindred Soul...
biggestkkfan
Thank you! Glad you like them :-) Merry Christmas to you too.
Michael Malone
just a great song, from a tremendous songwriter. about a buddy who has visited me long & often, & i expect him any day now!! ain't life grand? thanks for this wonderful video!
bar bel
Well done, Tina! A good choice of legends!
biggestkkfan
Thank you :-)
Ren Rivers
I personally knew Ramblin' Jack Elliot from his days in Santa Cruz, CA in the early 1970s. What a great man, what a great entertainer, and pretty fair guitar player, too. (smile) Sure wish I could know him again, I was to young back then, 20-21, to appreciate him like I should have. His stories were a feast full of wonderful events. Thanks Ramblin' Jack for the memories.