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
Slow Down
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Slow down and live, my friend
Take time, take time to understand
The things, the things you hope to win
Before, before your journey's end
Slow down, slow down and try to do
The things, the things that's right for you
The soul, the soul
You save could be your own
Albert Abernathy never spent a foolish dime
Rising at the crack of dawn and working overtime
You know, he never told me how much happiness he found
Yesterday we laid him in the finest grave in town.
I said slow down
Slow down and live, my friend
Take time, take time to understand
The things, the things you hope to win
Before, before your journey's end.
Slow down, slow down and try to do
The things, the things that's right for you
You know, you know
The soul, the soul
You save could be your own.
Little Sally Tremble is a Music City Queen
You can see her picture now on every magazine
Sally's come a long way from the life she left behind
She's had six gold records and been married seven times!
I said slow down--slow down and live my friend
Take time, take time to understand
The things, the things you hope to win
Before, before your journey's end
Slow down, slow down and try to do
The things, the things that's right for you
You know, you know
The soul, the soul
You save could be your own.
The song "Slow Down" by Kris Kristofferson is a powerful reflection on the idea of living in the moment and taking the time to understand what truly matters in life. The song opens with Kristofferson urging the listener to slow down and take stock of their life, and to be mindful of the things they hope to achieve before their journey's end. He encourages the listener to take the time to do what's right for them, and to avoid rushing through life without taking the time to truly appreciate what they have.
Kristofferson then tells two stories of people he knows - Albert Abernathy and Little Sally Tremble - who exemplify this idea of slowing down and living fully. Abernathy, who worked hard and saved his money, found true happiness in his life simply by living modestly and being content with what he had. Tremble, on the other hand, became a music star and lived a glitzy life, but ultimately found herself divorced multiple times and possibly unfulfilled. Kristofferson's message is clear: slowing down and living deliberately can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in life.
Overall, Kristofferson's "Slow Down" is a poignant reminder of the importance of being present in our lives, taking the time to understand what we truly value and want to achieve, and doing what's right for ourselves instead of simply following the expectations of others.
Line by Line Meaning
I said slow down
Take a moment to pause and reflect
Slow down and live, my friend
Live life at a more manageable pace, my friend
Take time, take time to understand
Invest time and energy into truly understanding your aspirations
The things, the things you hope to win
Referring to your goals or desires
Before, before your journey's end
Before your life draws to a close and you've lost your chance
Slow down, slow down and try to do
Make a deliberate effort to focus on
The things, the things that's right for you
Doing what's right for your unique path in life
You know, you know
You are aware, you understand
The soul, the soul
The essence of who you are
You save could be your own
You have the power to protect your soul and its well-being
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind