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
Turpentine
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And memories like spies
And salt betrays my eyes again
I started losing sleep and gaining weight
And wishing I was was ten again
So I could be your friend again
These days we go to waste like wine
It's six a.m. and I'm all messed up
I didn't mean to waste your time
So I'll fall back in line
But I'm warning you we're growing up
I heard you found some pretty words to say
You found your little game to play
And there's no one allowed in
Then just when we believe we could be great
Reality it permeates
And conquers from within again
These days we go to waste like wine
That's turned to turpentine
It's six a.m. and I'm all messed up
I didn't mean to waste your time
So I'll fall back in line
But I'm warning you we're growing up
We're OK I know we're OK
These days we go to waste like wine
That's turned to turpentine
It's six AM and I'm all messed up
I didn't mean to waste your time
So I'll fall back in line
But I'm warning you we're growing up
The lyrics of Kris Kristofferson's song "Turpentine" delve into the bittersweet experience of watching someone you care about grow distant and change over time. The singer reflects on the distance that has formed between them and the person they are addressing, observing their transformation through photographs and memories. The mention of salt betraying their eyes suggests that this separation has brought about sadness and tears.
The singer further expresses their emotional turmoil through the lines "I started losing sleep and gaining weight, and wishing I was ten again, so I could be your friend again." These lyrics highlight a sense of longing and nostalgia, wishing to go back to a time when the relationship was stronger and they had a closer bond. The reference to losing sleep and gaining weight suggests that this situation has taken a toll on the singer's well-being.
As the song continues, the lyrics take a somewhat resigned tone, expressing a sense of acceptance that things have changed. The lines "These days we go to waste like wine that's turned to turpentine" convey a feeling of disappointment and wasted potential. The singer acknowledges their own faults, feeling they have unintentionally wasted the other person's time. They warn that growing up has its consequences, perhaps suggesting that the realities of life and the passage of time can lead to inevitable changes in relationships.
Overall, "Turpentine" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of relationships and the pain of watching someone drift away. It conveys a sense of longing for connection and the realization that growing up can bring both joy and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch you grow away from me in photographs
I observe you distancing yourself from me through pictures
And memories like spies
And recollections that sneak up on me
And salt betrays my eyes again
And tears reveal my emotional distress once more
I started losing sleep and gaining weight
I began experiencing insomnia and weight gain
And wishing I was was ten again
And longing to be a child once more
So I could be your friend again
So I could reconnect with you as friends
These days we go to waste like wine
Nowadays, our time is wasted and deteriorating like spoiled wine
That's turned to turpentine
That has transformed into toxic turpentine
It's six a.m. and I'm all messed up
It's six in the morning and my emotions are in turmoil
I didn't mean to waste your time
I did not intend to waste your precious time
So I'll fall back in line
So I'll conform and follow the expected path
But I'm warning you we're growing up
But I'm cautioning you that we are maturing and changing
I heard you found some pretty words to say
I heard that you discovered some charming phrases to express
You found your little game to play
You found your own little game to enjoy
And there's no one allowed in
And there's no one permitted to enter
Then just when we believe we could be great
Then just when we start to believe in our potential greatness
Reality it permeates
Reality seeps in deeply
And conquers from within again
And prevails from within once more
We're OK I know we're OK
We're alright, I know we're alright
These days we go to waste like wine
Nowadays, our time is wasted and deteriorating like spoiled wine
That's turned to turpentine
That has transformed into toxic turpentine
It's six AM and I'm all messed up
It's six in the morning and my emotions are in turmoil
I didn't mean to waste your time
I did not intend to waste your precious time
So I'll fall back in line
So I'll conform and follow the expected path
But I'm warning you we're growing up
But I'm cautioning you that we are maturing and changing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aaron Bass
This song reminds me so much of my brother and I. Thanks for writing this Brandi and thank you Kris for covering it. Kris made me feel it to my core. Thank y’all.
Kris Kristofferson
Aaron bass will do a show again if you help me get these knee replacements removed that crippled me
Nita Lay
Wonderful cover by Kris. His craggy voice is so perfect on this. When he sings "It's 6am and I'm all messed up", I believe it. He would do just about anything for Brandi and vice-versa.
Linda Stonaker
Kris is way too cool! What a voice he has. Love him!
lio
Exelente canción, exelente interpretación!
Kris fue una inspiración para mí...desde que ví la película A Star is Born.
TuridHS HS
Beautiful, new for me, thank you :) Love Kris Kristoffersons songs. <3
Horny Toads
such an amazing song! its got that feeling..
Jackross7_11
Not his song , but this man can make “Happy Birthday To You” bring a tear to your eye. Kris is a very special person, he sings with something no other artist has. Him and Bob are so good I cannot figure out who to put first on my list. Every day I find a new song that one sings that’s better than the others. I feel sorry for people who don’t know the music of these two giants. I’m lucky to get to discover a new great song almost every day.
Spyder Mama
Man, a killer song!
danny waugh
Beautiful!!!