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 Heart
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was shining best at everything he did
They said that he could lighten up a room with just a smile
And I was proud as hell to be his kid
It seemed like just as we were growing close together he was gone
But it was long enough to show what I could be
And I sometimes feel his spirit fill my body like a song
[Chorus]
If they deal you down and dirty in a way you don't deserve
You'll feel better if you take it like a man
If you let 'em drive you crazy, boy, they'll shut your business down
Shake it off and get your licks in when you can
Cause the heart is all that matters in the end
They say every song is sweeter when you sing it from the heart
I won't knock it 'cause I tried it and it's true
I may never get to heaven, but I've seen a lot of stars
And I'm here to bring the same advice to you.
[Chorus]
Yes, the heart is all that matters in the end
The heart is all that matters in the end
In Kris Kristofferson’s “The Heart”, the singer sings about his father’s impact on his life and the values that have been passed down to him. The opening verse describes the singer’s admiration for his father who was a charming and stylish man, who could light up the room with his smile. The verse ends with an acknowledgement of his father’s untimely passing, which affected the singer deeply. Kristofferson then introduces the chorus, where the father’s advice is being passed down to the singer. The father advises the singer to take whatever life throws at him, to “shake it off and get your licks in when you can”. The chorus repeats the message that, “the heart is all that matters in the end”, implying that it is the content of a person’s character that defines them, not their worldly successes or failures.
The second verse of “The Heart” introduces the idea that a person should sing from the heart, that every song is sweeter when it is sung from a place of real emotion. The singer then concludes the song with a repetition of his father’s advice to keep heart as the top priority in life. The message of the song is clear – no matter what life throws at us, keeping heart is the most important thing. The song was originally released in 1986 on Kristofferson’s album “Repossessed” and later rereleased on his “The Austin Sessions” album.
Line by Line Meaning
My Daddy was a charmer, boys, he had a lot of style
My father was charming and charismatic, and had a way with people.
He was shining best at everything he did
He was exceptional at everything he attempted.
They said that he could lighten up a room with just a smile
He had a magnetic personality that could brighten up anyone's day.
And I was proud as hell to be his kid
I was extremely proud to be his child, and to carry on his legacy.
It seemed like just as we were growing close together he was gone
We were becoming closer when he suddenly passed away.
But it was long enough to show what I could be
The time we spent together was enough to inspire me and show me what I was capable of.
And I sometimes feel his spirit fill my body like a song
Sometimes I feel his presence and influence as though it were a song that fills my body.
And this is what my Daddy sings to me
This is the advice and guidance my father left me with.
If they deal you down and dirty in a way you don't deserve
If someone treats you unfairly or unjustly,
You'll feel better if you take it like a man
You'll feel better if you handle it with maturity and grace.
If you let 'em drive you crazy, boy, they'll shut your business down
If you allow someone or something to negatively affect you, it could lead to failure.
Shake it off and get your licks in when you can
Brush off the negativity, but also stand up for yourself when the opportunity arises.
Cause the heart is all that matters in the end
What truly matters in the end is what's in your heart - your strength, resilience, and character.
They say every song is sweeter when you sing it from the heart
They say that music performed with genuine emotion is more powerful and moving.
I won't knock it 'cause I tried it and it's true
I won't discredit that sentiment because I've experienced it for myself, and know it to be true.
I may never get to heaven, but I've seen a lot of stars
I may not have achieved everything I want in life, but I've had many moments of joy and success.
And I'm here to bring the same advice to you.
I'm passing on my father's wisdom and advice to you.
The heart is all that matters in the end
At the end of the day, what truly matters is what's in your heart and how you conduct yourself in the face of adversity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NICHOLAS ORAIN LOWE, WILLIAM MURRAY BREMNER, DAVE EDMUNDS, TERRY WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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