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 Bigger The Fool
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, wasn't it true, after all?
I couldn't help myself, girl and I can't blame you
The bigger the fool, the harder the fall
Living on old illusions and some make believe
That mattered to me most of all
Closing my eyes to changes I've refused to see
Somewhere in your future on the far side of your world
You might read my writing on the wall
And think of the easy dreamer who believed in you
The bigger the fool, the harder the fall
If someday you wake up in a world that's turned on you
And nobody answers when you call
Hey, think of the crazy dreamer who believes in you
The bigger the fool, the harder the fall
Think of the crazy dreamer who believes in you
The bigger the fool, the harder the fall
Kris Kristofferson's "The Bigger The Fool" is a melancholic ballad that touches on themes of heartbreak and regret. It appears to be a dialogue between two former lovers, one coming to terms with the fact that they pushed their partner away, and the other moving on. The first verse poses the question, “Hey, doesn’t it still look easy as it did to you?”, likely referring to how their relationship was once effortless and uncomplicated. Despite their efforts, he couldn’t help himself, and the relationship falls apart. The chorus notes that the bigger the fool, the harder the fall, getting at the idea that the larger the risk one takes in love, the greater the chance of pain when it ends.
The second verse describes how the singer focused on his own illusions and delusions and was blind to the changes happening in the relationship. He didn’t see the writing on the wall, and the result is a more significant fall. Though their time together is over, Kristofferson’s character believes that the woman will read his writing on the wall and think of the "easy dreamer" who believed in her. They see a future where she may be in need of someone believing in her and him no longer being there to do so.
With "The Bigger The Fool," Kristofferson sings of the difficulties of love and moving on from it. There are no happy endings or silver linings, but the song still manages to pose an essential question for anyone who navigates this difficult terrain. Ultimately, he reminds us that the bigger the risk, the harder the fall.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, doesn't it still look easy as it did to you?
Reflecting on the past, do you remember how simple it appeared to take risks without fear?
Hey, wasn't it true, after all?
Remember when we said we would love each other forever? Wasn't it genuine when we voiced those words?
I couldn't help myself, girl and I can't blame you
Regardless of how much I want to accuse you of hurting me, it was my fault, and I'm to blame.
The bigger the fool, the harder the fall
The more mistakes I make, the harder it is to recover.
Living on old illusions and some make believe
Living my life based on unrealistic assumptions and false beliefs.
That mattered to me most of all
Living in fantasy was more important than accepting the truth.
Closing my eyes to changes I've refused to see
Actively avoiding any alterations I didn't want to confront.
Somewhere in your future on the far side of your world
At some point in the far-off future of your life, perhaps in another location.
You might read my writing on the wall
You may come across my warning signs,
And think of the easy dreamer who believed in you
Is it possible you'll remember the fool who thought you were everything?
If someday you wake up in a world that's turned on you
If one day the world is unkind to you,
And nobody answers when you call
And you can't find anyone to help
Hey, think of the crazy dreamer who believes in you
Remember the foolish person who believed that you were capable of anything.
The bigger the fool, the harder the fall
The more unwise one is, the more difficult it is to recover from their mistakes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MIKE UTLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind