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 Year 2000 Minus 25
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God's still up there laughin', so she's gotta be alive
Who says he can't take a dirty joke
Power isn't power does and power slips away, it's so easy to abuse
Who'd've thought them Arabs would've brought the USA just to give it to the Jews
Singing crime still don't pay just like it used to
And you know this time slips away 'til you die
Well I don't give a damn when I choose to, no it don't hurt so bad when you're high
Oh say, does the future of the homesick and the brave even matter anymore
There ain't no more reason for them boys to run away than there was to fight before
Would you tell me why the hell we'd try
To win back in a war what we lost in the last
Might just ain't as righteous as it used to be, before when your army's out of gas
Singing crime still don't pay...
Singing crime still don't pay...
Kris Kristofferson's song "The Year 2000 Minus 25" is a poignant commentary on the state of the world, as viewed through the lens of the future. The opening line, "Welcome to the years 2000 minus 25," sets the tone for the rest of the song - a bleak picture of a world that has lost its way. The reference to smoke in the air is an allusion to environmental damage, which the singer sees as a serious concern for the future.
God's laughter is a reminder that, despite the seriousness of the situation, there is still room for humor and laughter. The line, "Who says he can't take a dirty joke," is a subtle jab at those who take themselves too seriously and forget to laugh. The idea that power slips away is a warning about the dangers of hubris and arrogance. The reference to the Arabs and the Jews is a nod to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the role that the United States has played in those conflicts.
The song raises important questions about the meaning of patriotism and the futility of war. The reference to the boys running away suggests that war is not always the solution, and that sometimes the bravest thing to do is to resist the temptation to fight. The final line, "Might just ain't as righteous as it used to be," is a commentary on the moral ambiguity that often surrounds military conflicts.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the years 2000 minus 25, oh say can you smell her for the smoke
Welcome to the year 1975, where the world is polluted and covered in smoke
God's still up there laughin', so she's gotta be alive
God still has a sense of humor, so there must be hope for humanity
Who says he can't take a dirty joke
God can handle crude humor and still love his creation
Power isn't power does and power slips away, it's so easy to abuse
Having power is not the same as using it wisely, and it can quickly be taken away if misused
Who'd've thought them Arabs would've brought the USA just to give it to the Jews
The idea of Arab countries funding US aid to Israel was unimaginable
Singing crime still don't pay just like it used to
Committing crimes may have been lucrative in the past, but it's not worth it anymore
And you know this time slips away 'til you die
Time passes by quickly, and before you know it, you'll be gone from this world
Well I don't give a damn when I choose to, no it don't hurt so bad when you're high
I don't care when I do drugs, and it's easier to ignore the pain when you're under the influence
Oh say, does the future of the homesick and the brave even matter anymore
Is there any hope for the future, and does it even matter for those who served their country?
There ain't no more reason for them boys to run away than there was to fight before
There's no good reason for young men to leave home and fight in wars they didn't start
Would you tell me why the hell we'd try to win back in a war what we lost in the last
Why bother trying to win back what was lost in a previous war when it leads to more losses?
Might just ain't as righteous as it used to be, before when your army's out of gas
Having military might isn't as moral as it used to be, especially if your army is weakened and vulnerable
Singing crime still don't pay...
Reiterating the message that committing crimes is no longer lucrative nor worth it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind