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-Spangled Bummer
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our angel made of steel is big enough to break
'Cause the rust is at his heel and I swear I seen him shaking
But who'll be here to bring her body home
The cabaret was crowded as her bed on payday night
Sammy hit a soldier and the fools began to fight
We scattered like the shadows in the early morning light
For longer that it seemed he loved some honest man
Who chased her wildest dream and rode her like the wind
And they forged the bloody chains for some wounds too deep for mending
But she was there to bring the body home
The barker stood there smiling as he beckoned us inside
To see the shining treasure that had grown too big to hide
Look here he said he's harmless and we wished he was lyin'
'Cause few remained to bring the body home
Ring anvil for the deal we dealt us by mistake
Our angel made of steel is big enough to break
'Cause the rust is at his heel and I swear I seen him shaking
We'll be here to bring her body home
Star-Spangled Bummer is a haunting and introspective song that paints a vivid and melancholic portrait of modern American society. The lyrics are cryptic and metaphorical, and each verse seems to offer a different perspective on the same bleak reality. The opening lines ring with a sense of regret and betrayal, as the singer reflects on the mistakes that have led to their current predicament. The image of an angel made of steel, big enough to break, perfectly captures the paradoxical nature and fragile strength of America itself.
The second and third verses delve deeper into the themes of love, sacrifice, and violence. The cabaret scene is vividly rendered as a chaotic and dangerous place, where young soldiers clash with reckless civilians. The singer's lover is portrayed as a wild and passionate spirit, who pursued her dreams with an intensity that led to tragedy. The idea of forging "bloody chains" for wounds too deep to mend is both haunting and hopeful, suggesting that even in the darkest moments there is a potential for redemption and healing.
The fourth and final verse provides a grim and unsettling coda to the song, as the singer describes a sideshow attraction that lures unsuspecting customers with promises of wonder and magic. The barker's smile and the harmless appearance of the exhibit are thinly veiled lies, and few leave unscathed. The repeated refrain of ringing anvil and bringing the body home evokes a sense of inevitability and resignation, as if the only way to survive in this world is to accept and embrace its harsh realities.
Line by Line Meaning
Ring anvil for the deal we dealt us by mistake
Let's acknowledge the mistake we made that led to our current situation
Our angel made of steel is big enough to break
Even the strongest among us can only withstand so much pressure before breaking down
'Cause the rust is at his heel and I swear I seen him shaking
Even those who appear unbreakable are vulnerable and struggling
But who'll be here to bring her body home
Who will be there to carry the burden and see things through to the end?
The cabaret was crowded as her bed on payday night
The scene was chaotic and raucous, just like her life
Sammy hit a soldier and the fools began to fight
A single event spiraled out of control and led to senseless violence
We scattered like the shadows in the early morning light
Everyone fled, leaving her behind to deal with the aftermath
But she remained to bring the body home
She stayed behind to face the consequences and do what needed to be done
For longer than it seemed he loved some honest man
She spent a long time in a loving relationship with a good man
Who chased her wildest dream and rode her like the wind
He encouraged her to pursue her passions and supported her every step of the way
And they forged the bloody chains for some wounds too deep for mending
Despite their love, certain wounds were too severe to heal and ultimately caused them to part ways
But she was there to bring the body home
Once again, she took on the responsibility of seeing things through to the end
The barker stood there smiling as he beckoned us inside
Someone was trying to lure the group into something that may not be all that it seemed
To see the shining treasure that had grown too big to hide
The offer was tempting, but it was likely too good to be true
Look here he said he's harmless and we wished he was lyin'
The situation turned out to be dangerous and harmful, despite the assurances
'Cause few remained to bring the body home
In the end, only a select few were willing to see things to their conclusion and bear the weight of their actions
We'll be here to bring her body home
Despite the hardship and pain, we will honor and fulfill our obligations until the end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind