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
Stairway To The Bottom
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the wife of a friend
On another night you hope you won't recall
And the wine that you're drinkin'
Doesn't keep you from thinkin'
Of the bitter taste that lingers in your soul
As you listen to your lies
Once again you realize
And I watch you climb that stairway
To the bottom
Every evening in that mirror on the wall
You take pride in deceiving
One who tried hard believin' in you
Even after all the lies you told
But each lie that you've spoken
And each vow that you've broken
Was a new nail in the coffin of your soul
If you think someone's cryin'
For the love that is dyin'
With the trust that you betray each time you fall
Look around you on that stairway to the bottom
No one's watchin' but that mirror on the wall
Look around you on that stairway to the bottom
No one's watchin' but that mirror on the wall
"Stairway to the Bottom" is a song that talks about a man who is spiraling down towards the end of his life. The song begins with the man cheating on his friend's wife and the guilt that he feels when he thinks about it. The wine he drinks does little to numb the pain of his soul. The song is sympathetic and empathetic as the singer watches the singer fall towards his rock-bottom.
As the song continues, the lyrics describe the consequences of the singer's destructive behavior. He takes pride in deceiving people, particularly someone who believed in him. Every lie and every broken promise only serves to move him closer to death. The song ends with the haunting lines "Look around you on that stairway to the bottom, no one's watching but that mirror on the wall." An epilogue that leaves the listener in contemplation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you've started again
You have given in to your temptations again.
With the wife of a friend
You have betrayed a friend's trust by being unfaithful to his wife.
On another night you hope you won't recall
You are engaged in activities that you feel ashamed of and wish to forget them later.
And the wine that you're drinkin'
You are consuming alcohol to escape reality.
Doesn't keep you from thinkin'
Despite being drunk, you are still aware of your actions and their consequences.
Of the bitter taste that lingers in your soul
You are experiencing remorse and guilt for your wrongdoings.
As you listen to your lies
You are aware that you are lying to yourself and making excuses for your actions.
Once again you realize
You have been in this situation before and it's becoming a habit to you.
That she doesn't mean a thing to you at all
You don't truly care about the person you are cheating with.
And I watch you climb that stairway
The artist observes you descending into darkness and immorality.
To the bottom
You are heading towards a point of no return.
Every evening in that mirror on the wall
You face your reflection and confront your wrongdoing each night.
You take pride in deceiving
You feel a sense of achievement in fooling someone.
One who tried hard believin' in you
You are deceiving someone who trusted and believed in you.
Even after all the lies you told
Even after being dishonest with them numerous times, they still fall for your lies.
But each lie that you've spoken
Each lie you tell adds to the pile of deceit that ruins your soul.
And each vow that you've broken
You have broken promises and betrayed trust, making it harder to believe in you again.
Was a new nail in the coffin of your soul
Each transgression poisons your soul and makes it harder to find peace and redemption.
If you think someone's cryin'
If you assume that someone is mourning the relationship.
For the love that is dyin'
For the affection that is fading away due to your actions.
With the trust that you betray each time you fall
You are betraying trust repeatedly by being unfaithful.
Look around you on that stairway to the bottom
Recognize that you are heading towards a path of self-destruction.
No one's watchin' but that mirror on the wall
Realize that no one is monitoring your actions but yourself and your conscience.
Look around you on that stairway to the bottom
Reflect on your mistakes and take responsibility for them before it's too late.
No one's watchin' but that mirror on the wall
You are accountable for your actions and their consequences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTOFFER KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind