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 Race
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Some will say it can't be won
So it gets harder when your shoes are snake ( Not sure of this lyric)
But I had set my mind to run.
But it was harder than I bargined for
Broken dreams at evey turn
I had hard enough to almost make it through
I slipped at fell before the finish line
Just when it seemed I couldn't loose
I can fall anytime you want me too
You are the shit beneath my shoe.
The lyrics to Kris Kristofferson's song "The Race" tell the story of a person determined to succeed in a race despite the odds being against them. The singer describes how the race is more challenging than mathematics and some believe it is impossible to win. Despite this, the singer is not deterred and has set their mind to run the race. However, as the race progresses, it becomes harder than imagined, and the singer experiences broken dreams at every turn. The singer almost makes it through, but they fall before the finish line, suggesting that they lose the race. The last line is a twist, with the singer saying, "You can fall anytime you want me too. You are the shit beneath my shoe," implying that they lost the race because of another person's actions or attitude towards them.
The song explores themes of determination, perseverance, and the harsh reality of failure. It highlights how even when we set our minds to accomplish something, external factors can hinder or help our progress. The phrase "the race is harder than arithmetic" is symbolic of how some struggles in life cannot be solved by simple calculations or formulas, and success may require more endurance and resilience than intelligence or talent.
Line by Line Meaning
The race is harder than arithmetic
Running the race is much more difficult than merely studying arithmetic.
Some will say it can't be won
People might suggest that winning the race is a futile endeavor.
So it gets harder when your shoes are snake
The task becomes increasingly difficult when you encounter obstacles or face problems.
But I had set my mind to run
Despite the challenges, the artist had resolved to compete in the race.
But it was harder than I bargained for
However, the difficulty of the race was even greater than expected.
Broken dreams at every turn
As the race progressed, the singer's hopes and aspirations were constantly dashed and shattered.
I had hard enough to almost make it through
The singer had struggled intently to progress as far as they did in the race.
And a lesson yet to learn
Despite their hard work, the artist still had something to learn from the experience.
I slipped and fell before the finish line
Unfortunately, the artist suffered a fall and was unable to complete the race.
Just when it seemed I couldn't lose
The accident happened when the artist was nearly reaching the end of the race, when success appeared inevitable.
I can fall anytime you want me to
The singer feels a sense of worthlessness and vulnerability in his current state, as if he is at the mercy of others.
You are the shit beneath my shoe.
The artist feels contempt for someone else, viewing them as inferior or worthless.
Contributed by Hunter S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.