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
Slouching Toward The Millennium
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah forsooth said Ben the Geek but who'll be left to hear
They've driven off the fools and saints and now they've stole the show
It's all a bloody circus mates and clowns are in control
If that's the truth said Marzipan the Midget from the floor
I know there won't be no demand for Midgets anymore
We used to be a novelty by simply being small
But next to them unholy men now Tiny Tim looks tall
You've still got your duty to choose how you live or you die (that's just the way it is)
So many warnings to turn this old rascal around
We better heed 'em while we got the freedom to try
[ harmonica ]
From the bombin' over Baghdad to the burnin' down at Waco
In the television courtroom of our trials we can see
If yow want to kill your parents or cut off somebody's business
All you got to do is make them hate the victim and you're free
Like Manuel Noriega Saddam Hussein David Koresh
And it's harder to matter...
We better heed 'em while we got the freedom to try
Kris Kristofferson's song "Slouching Toward The Millennium" is a commentary on the state of society at the dawn of the 21st century. The song begins with a barker who proclaims that it's time for truth, while pouring himself a beer. Ben the Geek is skeptical, wondering who will be left to hear the truth, since the "fools and saints" have been driven away. The circus imagery in the lyrics continues with the observation that "clowns are in control."
Marzipan the Midget from the floor chimes in, lamenting that there won't be any demand for midgets anymore, now that the world has produced "unholy men" who make Tiny Tim look tall. The chorus brings forth the idea that "it's harder to matter at all when it's all comin' down". However, despite the bleakness of this observation, the song urges the listener to exercise their duty to choose how they live or die. There are many warnings, but if we take heed of them, we still have the freedom to try and make the world a better place.
The second half of the song provides examples of the trials and tribulations of the era, from the bombing of Baghdad to the burning of Waco. Kristofferson laments that in the television courtroom of our trials, we can see that it's easy to get away with killing your parents or cutting off somebody's business - all you have to do is make them hate the victim. The song, therefore, ends with a call to action, urging us to heed the warnings while we still have the freedom to make a difference.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time for truth the barker said and poured his self a beer
The singer claims that it's time for people to face the truth. A person known as the 'barker' says this while pouring himself a beer.
Oh yeah forsooth said Ben the Geek but who'll be left to hear
A person named Ben the Geek responds to the barker, stating that it no longer matters if people hear the truth or not.
They've driven off the fools and saints and now they've stole the show
The people in power have gotten rid of both the foolish and the good individuals, leaving themselves in control.
It's all a bloody circus mates and clowns are in control
The current state of society is chaotic and nonsensical, with the ruling people behaving like clowns.
If that's the truth said Marzipan the Midget from the floor
A person called Marzipan the Midget questions the validity of what has been said so far.
I know there won't be no demand for Midgets anymore
Marzipan feels that society will no longer view them as a novelty.
We used to be a novelty by simply being small
Marzipan reminisces about the time when their small stature made them unique.
But next to them unholy men now Tiny Tim looks tall
Marzipan compares themselves to evil people and thinks that now even someone as small as Tiny Tim seems larger than life in comparison.
And it's harder to matter at all when it's all comin' down (and it's all comin' down)
The artist believes that it is becoming difficult for individuals to make any difference in the current state of society since everything seems to be collapsing.
You've still got your duty to choose how you live or you die (that's just the way it is)
Even in such a precarious situation, each person still has the responsibility to make choices regarding their lives and the futures they want to build.
So many warnings to turn this old rascal around
The singer acknowledges that there have been plenty of signs pointing to the need for change.
We better heed 'em while we got the freedom to try
The artist warns people to act while they still have the opportunity to do so.
From the bombin' over Baghdad to the burnin' down at Waco
The singer references specific events – such as the bombing of Baghdad and the burning down of Waco – to illustrate the chaos present in the world.
In the television courtroom of our trials we can see
The trials and tribulations of society are being broadcast and displayed to everyone through television.
If yow want to kill your parents or cut off somebody's business
The singer suggests that anyone can commit heinous acts as long as they manipulate others into hating the potential victims.
All you got to do is make them hate the victim and you're free
The artist explains that by twisting people's minds and turning them against others, anyone can get away with anything they want.
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.