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The Golden Idol
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics

Well, they've made a Golden Idol of the girl you used to be
Hangin' bangles on your branches like a lonely Christmas tree.
Yeah, they've dressed you fit for killin' in your thrillin' new disguise
Nailin' artificial spangles to the diamonds in your eyes
In that golden coach that turns into a bed,
You better make it, gal, before you wake up dead.
'Cause they'll paint your burning beauty with a coat of shiny lies
And they'll blind you with their wine so you won't even realize
'Til you watch the face you're washing disappearing down the drain
And you're staring in your mirror going privately insane

And that golden crown they've pushed down on your head
You better make it, gal, before you wake up dead.
Look around them golden sidewalks that you're walking on today
And you'll see that lonely gutter just a careless step away
And that altar that they're building you don't even understand
'Cause you're dazzled by the flashing of the daggers in their hands.
You'll be dancing in the darkness when their music disappears
And the jangle of your chains will be the only sound you hear
'Til your broken body's bleeding on an altar made of stone
And you've sacrificed your soul to please a world that's sick and wrong
And you never heard a single word I said.
Aww, make it, gal, before you wake up dead.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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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. Kristofferson composed his own songs and collaborated with Nashville songwriters such as Shel Silverstein.

In 1985, Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings Read Full BioKristoffer 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. Kristofferson composed his own songs and collaborated with Nashville songwriters such as Shel Silverstein.

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