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
The Best Of All Possible Worlds
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And kill the old familiar pain weavin' through my tangled brain
When I tipped my bottle back and smacked into a cop I didn't see
That police man said, "Mister Cool, if you ain't drunk, then you're a
fool."
I said, "If that's against the law, then tell me why I never saw
A man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't neither black or poor as
me?"
And I wound up in jail to spend the night
And dream of all the wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, I woke up next mornin' feelin' like my head was gone
And like my thick old tongue was lickin' something sick and wrong
And I told that man I'd sell my soul for something wet and cold as that
old cell.
That kindly jailer grinned at me, all eaten up with sympathy
Then poured himself another beer and came and whispered in my ear,
"If booze was just a dime a bottle boy, you couldn't even buy the smell"
I said, "I knew there was something I liked about this town."
But it takes more than that to bring me down, down, down.
'Cause there's still a lot of wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds
Well, they finally came and told me they was a gonna set me free
And I'd be leavin' town if I knew what was good for me
I said, "It's nice to learn that ev'rybody's so concerned about my
health."
(They were obsessed with it)
I said, "I won't be leavin' no more quicker than I can
'Cause I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand
And I don't need this town of yours more than I never needed nothin'
else."
'Cause there's still a lot of drinks that I ain't drunk
And lots of pretty thoughts that I ain't thunk
And lord there's still so many lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
In Kris Kristofferson's "The Best of All Possible Worlds," the lyrics describe a man who is trying to escape his own pain and suffering by getting drunk and catching a train. However, he winds up in jail after crashing into a police officer in his inebriated state. While in jail, he dreams of wine and lonely girls - the quintessential idea of a carefree life. The jailer offers him a beer, but also tells him that he shouldn't be drinking at all. Despite the warning, the man drinks again and is ultimately released from jail. However, he decides to stay in town and indulge in more alcohol and women. The song shows the man's struggle with addiction and his desire to escape reality, even though it only causes him more pain and misery.
Line by Line Meaning
I was runnin' through the summer rain, try'n' to catch that evenin' train
I was trying to catch the evening train during the summer rain.
And kill the old familiar pain weavin' through my tangled brain
I wanted to escape from the distress in my mind.
When I tipped my bottle back and smacked into a cop I didn't see
I accidentally hit a police officer when I leaned back with my bottle.
That police man said, "Mister Cool, if you ain't drunk, then you're a fool."
The officer said that I must be drunk and foolish.
I said, "If that's against the law, then tell me why I never saw
A man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't neither black or poor as me?"
I questioned the fairness of the law by mentioning that I had never seen someone who was not poor and black in jail.
Well, that was when someone turned out the lights
And I wound up in jail to spend the night
And dream of all the wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
I was arrested and spent the night in jail, where I thought about wine and women, and how this is the best possible world for me.
Well, I woke up next mornin' feelin' like my head was gone
And like my thick old tongue was lickin' something sick and wrong
In the morning, I felt disoriented and sick from the alcohol I had consumed.
And I told that man I'd sell my soul for something wet and cold as that old cell.
I expressed my desire for a cold drink, even if it meant losing my soul.
That kindly jailer grinned at me, all eaten up with sympathy
Then poured himself another beer and came and whispered in my ear,
"If booze was just a dime a bottle boy, you couldn't even buy the smell"
The jailer sympathized with me but also emphasized how inexpensive alcohol is and that I should not be so attached to it.
I said, "I knew there was something I liked about this town."
But it takes more than that to bring me down, down, down.
Although I enjoyed the town, it would take more than that to break me down.
'Cause there's still a lot of wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds
Despite everything, I still believe that the world has a lot of wine and lonely women that I can enjoy.
Well, they finally came and told me they was a gonna set me free
And I'd be leavin' town if I knew what was good for me
The authorities informed me that I would be released and that it would be best for me to leave town.
I said, "It's nice to learn that ev'rybody's so concerned about my
health."
(They were obsessed with it)
I said, "I won't be leavin' no more quicker than I can
'Cause I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand
And I don't need this town of yours more than I never needed nothin' else."
I sarcastically thanked them for their concern and expressed my desire to stay in town despite not needing it anymore.
'Cause there's still a lot of drinks that I ain't drunk
And lots of pretty thoughts that I ain't thunk
And lord there's still so many lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
There are still so many drinks I have not tried and thoughts I have not had, and many lonely women in the world for me to enjoy. Therefore, this is the best possible world for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTOFFER KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TransRoofKorean
@Mike Gacek
yeah later on he uses those lyrics often
default lyrics
I was runnin' through the summer rain, tryin' to catch the evenin' train
And kill that old familiar pain weavin' through my tangled brain
When I tipped my bottle back I smacked into a cop I didn't see.
That police man said, "Mister Cool, if you ain't drunk, then you're a fool."
I said, "If that's against the law, then tell me why I never saw
A man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't just as low-down poor as me?"
Well, that was when someone turned out the lights
And I wound up in jail to spend the night...
And dream of all the wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, I woke up next mornin' feelin' like my head was gone
And like my thick old tongue was lickin' something sick and wrong
And I told that man I'd sell my soul for something wet and cold as that old cell.
That kindly jailer grinned at me, all eaten up with sympathy,
Then poured himself another beer and came and whispered in my ear,
"If booze was just a dime a bottle, boy, you couldn't even buy the smell."
I said, "I knew there was something I liked about this town."
But it takes more than that to bring me down, down, down...
'Cause there's still a lot of wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, they finally came and told me they was a gonna set me free
And I'd be leavin' town if I knew what was good for me!
I said, "It's nice to learn that ev'rybody's so concerned about my health."
I said, "I won't be leavin' no more quicker than I can
'Cause I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand
And I don't need this town of yours more than I never needed nothin' else."
'Cause there's still a lot of drinks that I ain't drunk
And lots of pretty thoughts that I ain't thunk...
And Lord there's still so many lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
the "black" lyric was never inaccurate so I'll take it
I'm a poor asshat who grew up in a "sundown town" -- britbong OP should look that up, since I imagine you have no idea.
TransRoofKorean
I was runnin' through the summer rain, tryin' to catch the evenin' train
And kill that old familiar pain weavin' through my tangled brain
When I tipped my bottle back I smacked into a cop I didn't see.
That police man said, "Mister Cool, if you ain't drunk, then you're a fool."
I said, "If that's against the law, then tell me why I never saw
A man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't just as low-down poor as me?"
Well, that was when someone turned out the lights
And I wound up in jail to spend the night...
And dream of all the wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, I woke up next mornin' feelin' like my head was gone
And like my thick old tongue was lickin' something sick and wrong
And I told that man I'd sell my soul for something wet and cold as that old cell.
That kindly jailer grinned at me, all eaten up with sympathy,
Then poured himself another beer and came and whispered in my ear,
"If booze was just a dime a bottle, boy, you couldn't even buy the smell."
I said, "I knew there was something I liked about this town."
But it takes more than that to bring me down, down, down...
'Cause there's still a lot of wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, they finally came and told me they was a gonna set me free
And I'd be leavin' town if I knew what was good for me!
I said, "It's nice to learn that ev'rybody's so concerned about my health."
I said, "I won't be leavin' no more quicker than I can
'Cause I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand
And I don't need this town of yours more than I never needed nothin' else."
'Cause there's still a lot of drinks that I ain't drunk
And lots of pretty thoughts that I ain't thunk...
And Lord there's still so many lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
TransRoofKorean
to copy+paste
you're citing worse examples
this man is the most brilliant of lyricist country musicians ever had
I was runnin' through the summer rain, tryin' to catch the evenin' train
And kill the old familiar pain weavin' through my tangled brain
When I tipped my bottle back I smacked into a cop I didn't see.
That police man said, "Mister Cool, if you ain't drunk, then you're a fool."
I said, "If that's against the law, then tell me why I never saw
A man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't just as low-down poor as me?"
Well, that was when someone turned out the lights
And I wound up in jail to spend the night
And dream of all the wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, I woke up next mornin' feelin' like my head was gone
And like my thick old tongue was lickin' something sick and wrong
And I told that man I'd sell my soul for something wet and cold as that old cell.
That kindly jailer grinned at me, all eaten up with sympathy,
Then poured himself another beer and came and whispered in my ear,
"If booze was just a dime a bottle, boy, you couldn't even buy the smell."
I said, "I knew there was something I liked about this town."
But it takes more than that to bring me down, down, down...
'Cause there's still a lot of wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, they finally came and told me they was a gonna set me free
And I'd be leavin' town if I knew what was good for me!
I said, "It's nice to learn that ev'rybody's so concerned about my health."
I said, "I won't be leavin' no more quicker than I can
'Cause I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand
And I don't need this town of yours more than I never needed nothin' else."
'Cause there's still a lot of drinks that I ain't drunk
And lots of pretty thoughts that I ain't thunk
And Lord there's still so many lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
fastfeat
Truly one of the best songs ever written. Cheers!
jeff getchell
Kris is great, his life is amazing, from before he even became a famous songwriter & performer. 77 years old & counting. Much respect!
TransRoofKorean
fwiw other variations of this song are gonna make it clear he ain't a fan of your white supremacy btw
sküll düggery
one of my favorites. those first 2 albums are legendary.
Suzanne Greenfield
Kris has the most amazing way with words, just love him, he is so talented.
William Hutcheson
A masterful lyricist.
John Segreti
Kris is one of the most talented men out there..
John Carter
This song takes me back to basic training at Fort Dix New Jersey in December of 1979. I was sharing a two-man tent with a Seattle city-boy, who had never slept outside in his life. He was scared, and I sang this and other Kris Kristofferson songs to him for half the night, to calm him down.
Horizontaal Schaalbaar
"Tell me why I never saw a man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't either black or poor as me"
I saw him sing this at Glastonbury this year. What a great man.
TransRoofKorean
@Mike Gacek
yeah later on he uses those lyrics often
default lyrics
I was runnin' through the summer rain, tryin' to catch the evenin' train
And kill that old familiar pain weavin' through my tangled brain
When I tipped my bottle back I smacked into a cop I didn't see.
That police man said, "Mister Cool, if you ain't drunk, then you're a fool."
I said, "If that's against the law, then tell me why I never saw
A man locked in that jail of yours who wasn't just as low-down poor as me?"
Well, that was when someone turned out the lights
And I wound up in jail to spend the night...
And dream of all the wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, I woke up next mornin' feelin' like my head was gone
And like my thick old tongue was lickin' something sick and wrong
And I told that man I'd sell my soul for something wet and cold as that old cell.
That kindly jailer grinned at me, all eaten up with sympathy,
Then poured himself another beer and came and whispered in my ear,
"If booze was just a dime a bottle, boy, you couldn't even buy the smell."
I said, "I knew there was something I liked about this town."
But it takes more than that to bring me down, down, down...
'Cause there's still a lot of wine and lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
Well, they finally came and told me they was a gonna set me free
And I'd be leavin' town if I knew what was good for me!
I said, "It's nice to learn that ev'rybody's so concerned about my health."
I said, "I won't be leavin' no more quicker than I can
'Cause I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand
And I don't need this town of yours more than I never needed nothin' else."
'Cause there's still a lot of drinks that I ain't drunk
And lots of pretty thoughts that I ain't thunk...
And Lord there's still so many lonely girls
In this best of all possible worlds.
the "black" lyric was never inaccurate so I'll take it
I'm a poor asshat who grew up in a "sundown town" -- britbong OP should look that up, since I imagine you have no idea.