Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an American singer-songwri… Read Full Bio ↴Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are the songs "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which were hits for other artists.

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 Captive
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'd like to say that I can see the target of my destiny .
And that it guided everything I do .
I'd like to think that I could take a drink of you and just walk away but God and I both know it's not true .
Someday I'm bound to be free .
And I'll be ready for whatever life ensues .
But for the moment I remain the captive of the human brain .
That blew it'self to pieces over you .
Sorry that I put you through the one thing that we could not do .

Was get along together or apart .
Thankin' you for leavin' me a stronger man than I used to be .
And just a little harder in the heart .
Someday I'm bound to be free ( you know me ) .
And I'll be ready for whatever road I choose .

But for the moment I remain the captive of the human brain that.
Blew itself to pieces lovin' you .....

Overall Meaning

In "The Captive," Kris Kristofferson sings about feeling trapped by his desires and emotions. He starts by suggesting that he knows the path he's supposed to follow in life and that his choices are guided by his destiny. However, he quickly admits that this isn't really the case - he's still drawn to the person he's singing about, despite knowing that it's not healthy or sustainable. He says that someday he'll be free from these feelings and able to face whatever comes his way, but for now, he's stuck in this cycle of loving and hurting.

Throughout the song, Kristofferson uses vivid imagery to convey his emotional state. He talks about the "human brain that blew itself to pieces over you," suggesting that his obsession with this person has driven him to madness. He also acknowledges that they weren't able to get along, either when they were together or apart. In the end, he thanks the person for making him stronger, even as he admits that his heart has hardened.

Overall, "The Captive" is a powerful exploration of the ways in which our emotions can take hold of us, leading us to act against our own best interests. Kristofferson's lyrics are raw and honest, expressing both the pain and the hope that come with trying to navigate the complexities of love and desire.

Line by Line Meaning

I'd like to say that I can see the target of my destiny .
I wish I could confidently say that I have a clear goal for my life.

And that it guided everything I do .
I hoped that this goal would give my life purpose and direction.

I'd like to think that I could take a drink of you and just walk away but God and I both know it's not true .
I wish I could limit my feelings for you and avoid the pain that they cause me, but deep down, I know that's impossible.

Someday I'm bound to be free .
One day, I hope to break free from the emotional turmoil that holds me captive.

And I'll be ready for whatever life ensues .
When that day comes, I hope to be strong enough to face whatever challenges come my way.

But for the moment I remain the captive of the human brain .
Right now, my mind is my jailer - my thoughts and emotions keep me trapped.

That blew it'self to pieces over you .
My mind is overburdened with feelings and thoughts about you, causing chaos and destruction within myself.

Sorry that I put you through the one thing that we could not do .
I regret causing you pain and acknowledging that we were never capable of working things out.

Was get along together or apart .
We couldn't find a way to coexist either as a couple or as individuals.

Thankin' you for leavin' me a stronger man than I used to be .
Despite the pain caused by our breakup, I am grateful for the growth that came from that experience.

And just a little harder in the heart .
As a result of that growth, I am a little more emotionally guarded now.

Someday I'm bound to be free ( you know me ) .
I believe that you know me well enough to recognize that I long to find emotional freedom.

And I'll be ready for whatever road I choose .
When that day comes, I hope to be able to confidently make my own decisions and live my life on my own terms.

But for the moment I remain the captive of the human brain that.
For now, I know that I am still bound by the emotional chains that keep me captive.

Blew itself to pieces lovin' you .....
These chains came from loving you too much and being unable to let go.

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