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
Stranger
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I was too, 'cause I was stoned
Singin' every sad song on the juke-box one more time
Honey, they were hittin' close to home
And I said - Maybe this'll make you think I'm crazy
Honey, don't feel lonesome if you do
But if you wanna make a young man happy one more time
And she said - Stranger
Shut out the light and lead me
Somewhere - shut out the shadows, too
And while we lay there, makin' believe you love me
Stranger, could I believe in you
Maybe you got all you got together
Maybe you keep rollin' like a stone
Maybe some old lonesome song'll take you by surprise
And leave you just a little more alone
Singing - Stranger
Shut out the light and lead me
Somewhere - shut out the shadows, too
And while we lay there, makin' believe you love me
Stranger, could I believe in you
Keep Singing - Stranger
Shut out the light and lead me
Somewhere - shut out the shadows, too
And while we lay there, makin' believe you love me
Stranger, could I believe in you
The song Stranger by Kris Kristofferson talks about a lonely man who meets a lonely woman in a bar. The singer is possibly an alcoholic, singing all the sad songs on the jukebox, while the woman also appears sad and alone, looking at herself in the mirror. The man then makes a proposition to the woman, asking if she would like to spend the night with him to make him happy. The woman responds positively, asking the man to shut out the light and shadows and to make her believe that he loves her. However, there is a sense of uncertainty in the woman's voice, asking the man if she can believe in him.
The song portrays two lonely and unhappy people who are seeking companionship, even if it is just for a night. The man's request to spend the night with the woman might be seen as a plea for emotional intimacy and connection amidst loneliness. As the song comes to an end, there is a lost feeling that neither of the two strangers will find what they are seeking, and they will continue to be lonely and disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe she was smilin' in the mirror
Perhaps she was looking at herself smiling in the mirror
Maybe I was too, 'cause I was stoned
Perhaps he was also staring at himself, because he was under the influence of drugs
Singin' every sad song on the juke-box one more time
Repeating every depressing song in the jukebox
Honey, they were hittin' close to home
The songs were triggering emotions that were close to home
And I said - Maybe this'll make you think I'm crazy
Admitting that what he's about to say might sound crazy
Honey, don't feel lonesome if you do
Reassuring her that she shouldn't feel lonely even if she thinks he's crazy
But if you wanna make a young man happy one more time
If she wants to make him happy again
I'd sure like to spend the night with you
He wants to spend the night with her
And she said - Stranger
She addresses him as a stranger
Shut out the light and lead me
Turning off the lights and leading her somewhere
Somewhere - shut out the shadows, too
Going somewhere where there are no shadows
And while we lay there, makin' believe you love me
While they lie together pretending that he loves her
Stranger, could I believe in you
Asking if she could trust a stranger like him
Maybe you got all you got together
Perhaps he has everything he needs in life
Maybe you keep rollin' like a stone
Perhaps he keeps moving through life like a stone rolling downhill
Maybe some old lonesome song'll take you by surprise
Perhaps a sad song will catch him off guard
And leave you just a little more alone
Leaving him feeling a little more isolated
Keep Singing - Stranger
She continues to address him as a stranger
Shut out the light and lead me
Repeating the request to turn off the lights and lead her somewhere
Somewhere - shut out the shadows, too
Repeating the desire to go somewhere without shadows
And while we lay there, makin' believe you love me
Repeating the act of pretending that he loves her while they are together
Stranger, could I believe in you
Repeating the question of whether she can trust a stranger like him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anne Milne
Doesn’t Kris write the most beautiful lyrics ever
Nirmala S Gabriel
His catalogue is a treasure to behold.
Britt-marie Mörtlund
❤❤❤
Ursula Braun Waldeck
Never get tired of listening to his beautifull song... Can spend hours and hours enjoying his wonderful lyrics. What a beautiful soul he is.
Bryan Grace
What an amazing storyteller.
#jackthomas007
Kristofferson is GREAT. This is one of my favorite songs of mine.
biggestkkfan
this movie is absolutely worth watching...and Kris is great in it...
TheVinc123
What's it called?
Benny Hayes
@TheVinc123 "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
Carri Black
Only Kris Kristofferson could melt the heart of every American woman. I have loved this song since I was a child. My mom and my grandma adored him. Kris is timeless and classic. 💖❤️❤️❤️