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
Star-Crossed
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back when both of us were used to making strangers
She shook me down for all I had and every way but loose
But I was still too juiced to feel the danger
And anyway now, anymore you don't know which is worse
Falling out of love or left behind
I just seen the sweetest dreaming wind up like a curse
Maybe one too many times.
Chorus:
But she said, "i don't want you baby, I just want someone to hold me
I got too much rock and roll to be a wife
I can't live without the lightning and I'm scared of growing older
So I'm bound to keep on running for my life"
I've seen her roll herself into a tight and tiny ball
Like a belly-gunner crouching in a turret
I said, I recognize the symptoms, girl, I got the same disease
I just haven't got a clue to how to cure it
And any way, now, any more, you don't know who to trust
'cause love is wild as lust and just as blind
Anyone who's ever gonna love me - better fool me first
And baby, maybe, I been one too many times.
Chorus:
But she said, "i don't want you baby, I just want someone to hold me
I got too much rock and roll to be a wife
I can't live without the lightning and I'm scared of growing older
So I'm bound to keep on running for my life"
Kris Kristofferson's song "Star-Crossed" is a somber story of two people who happen to fall in love in a shooting gallery. The singer, who seems to have been a stranger to the lady in question, is smitten by her and falls head over heels. The woman, on the other hand, is no typical damsel and knows how to play her cards well. She takes advantage of the singer, hoodwinks him, and takes all that he's got. She's a player who is always on the move, living life on the edge, with a lust for existing without boundaries or restrictions.
The chorus reveals why this woman is not ready for commitment, "I don't want you, baby, I just want someone to hold me." She's merely looking for a companion to share her adventures without any strings attached. "I got too much rock and roll to be a wife, I can't live without the lightning and I'm scared of growing older, so I'm bound to keep on running for my life" explains it all.
The singer sympathizes with her and sees a part of himself in her. He understands her inability to commit to a life with someone and her fear of growing older. He feels that he is star-crossed, destined not to love or be loved properly. The lyrics of the song show that even when we finally find someone we can love, the fear of losing them can be overwhelming. The song tells a tale of love that is meant to be but falls apart due to fear, doubt, and the inability to commit.
Line by Line Meaning
I met her in a shooting gallery, speeding like a goose
I first encountered her in a place that symbolized the danger and thrill she was chasing, where she moved quickly and recklessly.
Back when both of us were used to making strangers
We were both accustomed to meeting new people and not forming deep connections.
She shook me down for all I had and every way but loose
She took advantage of my trust and drained me of everything, except my stubborn determination to hold onto her.
But I was still too juiced to feel the danger
Despite the warning signs, I was still too addicted to the high she gave me to see the harm in staying with her.
And anyway now, anymore you don't know which is worse
Nowadays, it's hard to tell which is more painful - falling out of love or being left behind.
Falling out of love or left behind
Being cast aside by someone you love or losing all affection for them both result in unbearable pain.
I just seen the sweetest dreaming wind up like a curse
I've seen even the most beautiful and hopeful relationships turn into a disaster.
Maybe one too many times.
Perhaps I've experienced this heartbreak one too many times.
But she said, "i don't want you baby, I just want someone to hold me
She admitted that she wasn't looking for love or commitment, but just physical comfort and companionship.
I got too much rock and roll to be a wife
She felt too attached to her reckless, wild lifestyle to settle down and conform to the expectations of a traditional relationship.
I can't live without the lightning and I'm scared of growing older
She feared losing the excitement and passion she experienced in her youth, and didn't want to face the reality of aging.
So I'm bound to keep on running for my life"
She was committed to avoiding anything that would hold her back or force her to change, even if it meant running away from love and commitment.
I've seen her roll herself into a tight and tiny ball
I've witnessed her retreat into herself and become self-protective, like a soldier huddled in a bunker.
Like a belly-gunner crouching in a turret
She was ready to fire at anyone who tried to get too close to her heart or reveal her vulnerabilities.
I said, I recognize the symptoms, girl, I got the same disease
I acknowledged that I too was afflicted by the same fear and avoidance of commitment as her.
I just haven't got a clue to how to cure it
Despite recognizing the problem, I had no idea how to overcome it or change our destructive pattern of behavior.
And any way, now, any more, you don't know who to trust
In the present day, it's difficult to know who to believe or rely on, especially in matters of the heart.
'cause love is wild as lust and just as blind
Love can be as unpredictable and irrational as desire, and can cloud one's judgment just as easily.
Anyone who's ever gonna love me - better fool me first
I am skeptical of anyone who claims to love me, and expect them to deceive me before showing any true affection.
And baby, maybe, I been one too many times.
Maybe I've been hurt and betrayed by love too many times, and can't bring myself to trust it again.
Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.