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
Whiskey Whiskey
Kris Kristofferson Lyrics
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Just before the rain
A little like this quiet night
Before the cold winds came
She's a little bit like the weather
I never know when she's gonna change
She's a part of my heart
And a whole lot of my pain
[Chorus:]
Whiskey, whiskey my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Milk of mercy please be kind
Drive this feeling from my mind
Don't you know, somehow her smile
Can make the day begin
She'd take away this mask of grey
And let the sun shine in
Now I find I've been blinded
By the cold and wintery wind
She disguised behind her eyes
Oh what a fool I've been
[Chorus x 2]
The song "Whiskey Whiskey" by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge is a melancholic expression of heartache and regret. The lyrics are a poignant portrayal of the singer's internal turmoil as he struggles with his emotions surrounding a woman who is changeable and unpredictable, much like the weather. The opening verse paints a picture of someone who is both comforting and foreboding, conveying the sense of impending sadness and uncertainty that surrounds the relationship between the two people. The chorus, with its repeated plea to the titular whiskey, reflects the singer's emotional turmoil and desire for solace, as he seeks to numb his pain with alcohol.
The second verse explores the power that the woman holds over the singer, describing how her smile can change his whole outlook on life. However, this is juxtaposed with the image of a mask of grey that she takes away, implying that there is a darker, more complex aspect to her personality that the singer finds difficult to understand or deal with. By the end of the song, the singer recognizes the extent of his own foolishness in his dealings with this woman, revealing a deep sense of regret and longing for what he has lost.
Overall, "Whiskey Whiskey" is a powerful depiction of the emotional turmoil that comes with navigating love and loss, exploring themes of vulnerability, pain, and the search for solace in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a little bit of the sunshine
She brings light to my life
Just before the rain
But she also brings a storm of emotions
A little like this quiet night
She's peaceful and calming
Before the cold winds came
Before the hardships of life hit me
She's a little bit like the weather
She's unpredictable and always changing
I never know when she's gonna change
I can't predict her moods or actions
She's a part of my heart
But at the same time she's causing me pain
And a whole lot of my pain
Her presence in my life is a source of pain
Whiskey, whiskey my old friend
Alcohol is a familiar escape for me
I've come to talk with you again
I need to numb my pain once more
Milk of mercy please be kind
I hope to find comfort in drinking
Drive this feeling from my mind
I want to forget my troubles
Don't you know, somehow her smile
Her smile can lift me up
Can make the day begin
It's like sunshine on a dark day
She'd take away this mask of grey
She can make my sadness disappear
And let the sun shine in
Revealing the bright side of life
Now I find I've been blinded
But I realize now that I was naive
By the cold and wintery wind
The harsh reality of our relationship
She disguised behind her eyes
She's hiding her true intentions from me
Oh what a fool I've been
I've been taken advantage of and now regret it
Whiskey, whiskey my old friend
So I turn to alcohol for solace again
I've come to talk with you again
As a way to forget my pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS GHENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind