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
When She's Wrong
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew that someday it had to come
Just let me offer a word to the wise, boy
Oh, take a good look at what you've won
Then turn around, boy, and try to forget her
She's gonna hurt you, before she's gone
'Cause, when she's good, lord, there ain't nothing better
But, when she's wrong, she sure can be wrong
Oh, but soon as the sun shines, start lookin' for rain
You'll hear the thunder, before you see the lightening
As soon as it's over, start lookin' for pain
And you won't be sorry that you ever met her
But you'll be thankful she don't last long
'Cause when she's good, lord, there ain't nothing better
But when she's wrong, she sure can be wrong
The lyrics of Kris Kristofferson's song 'When She's Wrong' talk about a woman who is both a blessing and a curse to her partner. The singer warns the new man in her life that she will eventually hurt him, even though it might be tough to let go of her when everything is going well. The lyrics hint at the fact that the woman is unpredictable, and even though she can bring sunshine and light into someone's life, it's always temporary.
The song's verses contrast the woman's positive and negative qualities against each other. The singer tells the new man to enjoy her love and caring when she is in a good mood. Still, at the same time, he warns that the good times won't last long. And, when the inevitable end comes, it will hurt. The lyrics repeatedly remind the listener that the woman is bound to make mistakes that might have severe consequences. However, the song doesn't suggest that the woman is a bad person; rather, she is just not ideal for a long-term relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Go on and take her, it ain't no surprise boy
Don't hesitate to take her, it was just a matter of time
I knew that someday it had to come
I always knew that someone would take her away
Just let me offer a word to the wise, boy
Listen to me, and take caution
Oh, take a good look at what you've won
Appreciate what you've won, and be aware of what lies ahead
Then turn around, boy, and try to forget her
Once it's over, move on and forget about her
She's gonna hurt you, before she's gone
She'll cause pain and suffering before leaving
'Cause, when she's good, lord, there ain't nothing better
When she's at her best, there's nothing better than being with her
But, when she's wrong, she sure can be wrong
But when she's at her worst, she can cause a lot of damage
She'll bring you sunshine so good that it's frightening
She'll make you feel amazing, in a way that can be overwhelming
Oh, but soon as the sun shines, start lookin' for rain
As soon as things are going well, be prepared for it to turn bad
You'll hear the thunder, before you see the lightening
You'll sense that something bad is coming, before it actually happens
As soon as it's over, start lookin' for pain
As soon as things are going bad, be prepared for it to get worse
And you won't be sorry that you ever met her
Even if it ends badly, you won't regret having met her
But you'll be thankful she don't last long
But you'll be grateful that the bad times didn't last forever
'Cause when she's good, lord, there ain't nothing better
Because when she's at her best, there's nothing better
But when she's wrong, she sure can be wrong
But when she's at her worst, she can cause a lot of damage
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind