El Coyote
Kris Kristofferson And The Borderlords Lyrics


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They call him a bandit
And you know the notches
That he ought to wear on his gun

He sees you through eyes
He's partially blinded
>from staring to long at the sun
But he's true to his school
And he's nobody's fool
And he's lucky to still be alive

The wolf pack will die
When it's scattered by man
Lonesome coyotes survive.


He burried his feelings
And life was a mountain
That he was determined to climb

Then he caught the scent
Of a sister in spirit
Who taught him to love her in time

Somehow or other
She gathered together
The cubs that he sired on the way

And they run by his side
Through the chill hungry night
And they sleep to his sweet serenade


There's a part of his heart up in heaven
And a part that will always be wild
And all he can leave them is love and a reason
To run for the rest of their lifves
Lonesome coyotes survive.


There's a part of his heart up in heaven
And a part that will always be wild
And all he can leave them is love and a reason




To run for the rest of their lifves
Lonesome coyotes survive.

Overall Meaning

Kris Kristofferson's song "Coyote" is a reflective ballad about a man who, like a coyote, has survived despite the odds. The singer has been labelled a "bandit" and has been subject to the judgment of society. However, he remains true to his principles and nobody's fool. He has managed to stay alive, while the rest of the "wolf pack" has been scattered by man. The coyote's survival instinct and independence is emphasized throughout the lyrics, and how it is a skill required to make it in life.


The man's character transformation occurs when he meets a woman who teaches him how to love. Together, they raise the cubs that he has sired along his journey. The lyrics suggest that this woman is the only one that had this transformative effect on him, and they manage to make a family despite the circumstances. The children become a symbol for hope and the continuation of life. The coyote is proud of his family, and they provide him with the sweet serenade that he sings. The coyote accepts his wild and free nature, and he has peace in his heart. Kristofferson's narrative is heartfelt and suggests that even those who are seen as outcasts can find love and family at the end of the day.


Line by Line Meaning

They call him a bandit
He's seen as a criminal by many


And you know the notches That he ought to wear on his gun
He's done things that he could be punished for


He sees you through eyes He's partially blinded >from staring to long at the sun
He's been through a lot, and it's affected his perspective


But he's true to his school And he's nobody's fool And he's lucky to still be alive
He's stayed true to himself despite the odds, and is grateful to still be alive


The wolf pack will die When it's scattered by man Lonesome coyotes survive.
Those who stick together are vulnerable, but loners are more resilient


He burried his feelings And life was a mountain That he was determined to climb
He's kept his emotions hidden and focused on his goals


Then he caught the scent Of a sister in spirit Who taught him to love her in time
He found someone who showed him a new way to live and love


Somehow or other She gathered together The cubs that he sired on the way
She helped him take care of his responsibilities


And they run by his side Through the chill hungry night And they sleep to his sweet serenade
His family depends on him, but he also finds joy in his role


There's a part of his heart up in heaven And a part that will always be wild And all he can leave them is love and a reason To run for the rest of their lifves Lonesome coyotes survive.
He has conflicting desires and hopes for his family, but ultimately wants them to be free and happy


There's a part of his heart up in heaven And a part that will always be wild And all he can leave them is love and a reason To run for the rest of their lifves Lonesome coyotes survive.
He's aware that he can't control everything, and that freedom is key to survival




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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