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
Third World Warrior
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't defeat him - he's fighting for freedom
That's all he wanted - that's all he needs
You'll never beat him with weapons and money
There ain't no chain as strong as the will to be free
Maybe his colors are driving you crazy
Call him a commie - maybe it's true
Give him the work that you don't want to do
Chorus:
You can't defeat him - he's fighting for freedom
That's all he wanted - that's all he needs
You'll never beat him with weapons and money
There ain't no chain as strong as the will to be free
See how we honor the struggle for freedom
They needed vision - we gave'em war
See who is patiently watching in silence
The crucification of el salvador
Chorus:
You can't defeat him - he's fighting for freedom
That's all he wanted - that's all he needs
You'll never beat him with weapons and money
There ain't no chain as strong as the will to be free
In Kris Kristofferson's song, 'Third World Warrior', the artist touches upon the struggles and difficulties faced by people fighting for their freedom. The chorus emphasizes the determination and willpower of those fighting for freedom and how they cannot be defeated by weapons or money. The lyrics also highlight the hypocrisy of those who lure people away from their home with money and then make them do the work they do not want to do.
The song also acknowledges the struggle for freedom and how often people mistake it for communist behavior. The artist portrays how people use violence and war to destroy the movement for freedom instead of honoring their vision. The last verse of the song portrays the silent watching of the crucifixion of people fighting for freedom in El Salvador.
The song reflects on the cultural and political struggles faced by individuals fighting for freedom around the world, specifically those living in third world countries. The message of the song is to honor the freedom fighters and their vision and to help them achieve their goals, instead of subduing them with weapons and money.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't defeat him - he's fighting for freedom
He cannot be defeated because he is fighting for something he believes in, which is freedom.
That's all he wanted - that's all he needs
He only wants freedom, and that is all he needs to be content.
You'll never beat him with weapons and money
Using weapons and money to defeat him is useless because he cannot be coerced by these resources.
There ain't no chain as strong as the will to be free
No matter how strong a chain may be, it is not as strong as the desire for freedom.
Maybe his colors are driving you crazy
Perhaps the differences in his way of life and thinking is causing discomfort for some individuals.
Call him a commie - maybe it's true
Referring to him as a 'commie' may hold some truth, but it does not diminish the importance of his fight for freedom.
Lure him away from his home with your money
Offering him work and money may be a tactic to shift his focus away from the fight for freedom.
Give him the work that you don't want to do
The work offered to him may be undesirable, but it may be seen as an attempt to distract him from his goal.
See how we honor the struggle for freedom
We should honor the fight for freedom as it is a worthy cause.
They needed vision - we gave'em war
Instead of helping them with vision and support, we responded with war.
See who is patiently watching in silence
There are those who are quietly observing the difficult situation.
The crucification of el salvador
The struggles and hardships faced by the people of El Salvador are like a crucifixion.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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