I'm gonna leave whatever's left of my luck to the losers
September 29, 2024 5:03 PM Subscribe
Kris Kristofferson, legendary songwriter, actor, and poet died today at age 88. Born in 1936 in Brownsville, Texas, Kris led a fascinating life. What I have always liked most about him, however, was how good he seemed to be.
Kris started writing at Pomona college in the mid 1950s, was Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude in literature. After Pomona, he was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, where he boxed, played rugby, and starting writing songs.
Born into an Airforce family, Kris himself enlisted and completed ranger school in the early 1960s. Kris left the Airforce to focus on music, and was disowned by his family for it. Some of my favorite tracks from his earlier days
Border Lord
The lights of Magdala
Kiss the world goodbye
His filmography is legendary, and includes three Peckinpah films as well as a Golden Globe for A Star is Born with Barbara Streisand.
My personal favorite artist from this generation of outlaw country singers (forgive me Willy). His entire biography is fascinating, but what I admire most about him is how good a person he seems to have been.
The story that, to my mind, most demonstrates how great he was concerns Sinead O'Conner.
In 1992 Sinead played on SNL and tore up a picture of Pope Jean Paul II in protest of the abuses against children perpetrated and covered up by high-ranking members of the Catholic church. She knew, and she tried to tell the world, and the world shamed her for it. Sinead played at the Bob Dylan tribute concert that year, and she was booed by the audience. Kris introduced her as an “artist whose name has become synonymous with courage and integrity,” which she most certainly was but which did not become true in popular culture for two decades. Kris went up to Sinead on stage and told her "don't let the bastards get you down".
Rest Easy Kris.
NB: Kris and Sinead had a complicated relationship from the outside.
Kris started writing at Pomona college in the mid 1950s, was Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude in literature. After Pomona, he was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, where he boxed, played rugby, and starting writing songs.
Born into an Airforce family, Kris himself enlisted and completed ranger school in the early 1960s. Kris left the Airforce to focus on music, and was disowned by his family for it. Some of my favorite tracks from his earlier days
Border Lord
The lights of Magdala
Kiss the world goodbye
His filmography is legendary, and includes three Peckinpah films as well as a Golden Globe for A Star is Born with Barbara Streisand.
My personal favorite artist from this generation of outlaw country singers (forgive me Willy). His entire biography is fascinating, but what I admire most about him is how good a person he seems to have been.
The story that, to my mind, most demonstrates how great he was concerns Sinead O'Conner.
In 1992 Sinead played on SNL and tore up a picture of Pope Jean Paul II in protest of the abuses against children perpetrated and covered up by high-ranking members of the Catholic church. She knew, and she tried to tell the world, and the world shamed her for it. Sinead played at the Bob Dylan tribute concert that year, and she was booed by the audience. Kris introduced her as an “artist whose name has become synonymous with courage and integrity,” which she most certainly was but which did not become true in popular culture for two decades. Kris went up to Sinead on stage and told her "don't let the bastards get you down".
Rest Easy Kris.
NB: Kris and Sinead had a complicated relationship from the outside.
Oooooofffff. This is a bad week. What a phenomenal talent.
posted by dsword at 5:10 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
posted by dsword at 5:10 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
On a Sunday mornin' sidewalk
I'm wishin', Lord, that I was stoned
'Cause there's somethin' in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone
And there's nothin' short a' dyin'
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleepin' city sidewalk
And Sunday mornin' comin' down
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posted by gwint at 5:10 PM on September 29 [18 favorites]
I'm wishin', Lord, that I was stoned
'Cause there's somethin' in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone
And there's nothin' short a' dyin'
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleepin' city sidewalk
And Sunday mornin' comin' down
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posted by gwint at 5:10 PM on September 29 [18 favorites]
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posted by miles per flower at 5:12 PM on September 29
posted by miles per flower at 5:12 PM on September 29
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posted by Ignorantsavage at 5:13 PM on September 29
posted by Ignorantsavage at 5:13 PM on September 29
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Highwayman gives me a lot of feelings right now.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 5:13 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
Highwayman gives me a lot of feelings right now.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 5:13 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
I wrote about him in a response to an AskMe in 2011. What a list of accomplishments.
I want to be Kris Kristofferson when I grow up.
posted by 2N2222 at 5:16 PM on September 29 [7 favorites]
I want to be Kris Kristofferson when I grow up.
posted by 2N2222 at 5:16 PM on September 29 [7 favorites]
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posted by dogstoevski at 5:18 PM on September 29
posted by dogstoevski at 5:18 PM on September 29
He had brains, talent, drive and did so much with them.
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posted by theora55 at 5:21 PM on September 29
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posted by theora55 at 5:21 PM on September 29
RIP. That man could get it.
posted by Kitteh at 5:31 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 5:31 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
I always wanted to see him and Lee Marvin act in the movie. my father adored him and maintained that he was probably one of the smartest people in the business.
🌑
posted by clavdivs at 5:34 PM on September 29
🌑
posted by clavdivs at 5:34 PM on September 29
He’ll always be around
And around, and around, and around
And around, and around, and around
posted by Parasite Unseen at 5:38 PM on September 29 [4 favorites]
And around, and around, and around
And around, and around, and around
posted by Parasite Unseen at 5:38 PM on September 29 [4 favorites]
He's a poet and he's a picker
He's a prophet and he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher
And a problem when he's stoned
He's a walkin' contradiction
Partly truth and partly fiction
Takin' every wrong direction
On his lonely way back home
So many good songs.
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posted by Hardcore Poser at 5:43 PM on September 29 [6 favorites]
He's a prophet and he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher
And a problem when he's stoned
He's a walkin' contradiction
Partly truth and partly fiction
Takin' every wrong direction
On his lonely way back home
So many good songs.
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posted by Hardcore Poser at 5:43 PM on September 29 [6 favorites]
Kristofferson moved to Nashville and worked odd jobs during the day while writing songs at night. One of the jobs was being a janitor at Columbia Records studios, where he witnessed some of the recording sessions for Bob Dylan’s legendary album, Blonde On Blonde.Peter Stone Brown Archives
He would also commute to Louisiana where he worked as a helicopter pilot for oil rigs. Some of his most famous songs including Me And Bobby McGhee were written in Louisiana, and Help Me Make It Through The Night was written while he was sitting on top of an oil platform. One of Kristofferson’s first outrageous acts was landing a helicopter unannounced in Johnny Cash’s yard to give him some tapes of his songs.
posted by y2karl at 5:48 PM on September 29 [5 favorites]
He was also brilliant as Sheriff Charlie Wade in John Sayles' magnificent Lone Star
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posted by HillbillyInBC at 5:58 PM on September 29 [14 favorites]
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posted by HillbillyInBC at 5:58 PM on September 29 [14 favorites]
⭐
posted by HearHere at 6:01 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
posted by HearHere at 6:01 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
One of Kristofferson’s first outrageous acts was landing a helicopter unannounced in Johnny Cash’s yard to give him some tapes of his songs.
posted by zamboni at 6:02 PM on September 29 [10 favorites]
"It's a great story, and a story that good needs to be believed, even if it's not true," quips musician Rodney Crowell, who became Cash's son-in-law when he married Rosanne Cash. "But, you know, according to John, that literally happened." (quoted in the NPR obit)Another Kristofferson 'great story' is the Toby Keith apocrypha.
posted by zamboni at 6:02 PM on September 29 [10 favorites]
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posted by lilywing13 at 6:04 PM on September 29
posted by lilywing13 at 6:04 PM on September 29
He was also in Blade. The man did whatever he wanted!
posted by kerf at 6:05 PM on September 29 [9 favorites]
posted by kerf at 6:05 PM on September 29 [9 favorites]
Rarely have I felt seen as much as I did when I first heard "Sunday Morning Coming Down," covered by (among many other excellent musicians) Brandi Carlile. So many songs about drinking, so few about being hung over, not to mention the devastating isolation of the day after.
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posted by Halloween Jack at 6:13 PM on September 29 [12 favorites]
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posted by Halloween Jack at 6:13 PM on September 29 [12 favorites]
Lone Star is on Tubi right now.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 6:21 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
posted by Mr. Yuck at 6:21 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
Let's just be glad we had this time to spend together...
posted by clawsoon at 6:24 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon at 6:24 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
A man so gifted, even Leonard Cohen pretended to be him.
Godspeed.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:28 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
Godspeed.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:28 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
Chirp!
This is inscribed in the stone of the Pomona College gate:
posted by PresidentOfDinosaurs at 6:40 PM on September 29 [5 favorites]
This is inscribed in the stone of the Pomona College gate:
They only are loyal to this college who, departing, bear their added riches in trust for mankind.Few seem to have followed it as well as him.
posted by PresidentOfDinosaurs at 6:40 PM on September 29 [5 favorites]
Not a fan of country music, but I was a fan of him.
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posted by JustSayNoDawg at 6:41 PM on September 29
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posted by JustSayNoDawg at 6:41 PM on September 29
Kristofferson’s first outrageous acts was landing a helicopter unannounced in Johnny Cash’s yard to give him some tapes of his songs.
and I thought doing a movie with Lee Marvin would be cool.
posted by clavdivs at 6:42 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
and I thought doing a movie with Lee Marvin would be cool.
posted by clavdivs at 6:42 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
He was absolutely charming in a long 1984 interview with David Letterman, where he talks about Willy Nelson, a film he just completed which he fears no one will ever see, dating Barbara Streisand, and running into Hemingway at a bull fight in Spain. He looks absolutely beautiful here and his voice is as smooth and seductive as you could ever hope to hear.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:55 PM on September 29 [10 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:55 PM on September 29 [10 favorites]
Oh my gosh, not Kris Kristofferson! He wrote my absolute favorite song ever, Me And Bobby McGee. (My favorite version is Janis Joplin's cover.)
Another masterpiece is Sunday Morning Coming Down is both understated and heartbreaking, goes straight to the heart of a particular kind of life or maybe a particular phase of life (if we're lucky). This man was a lyrical god, in the same leagues as Leonard Cohen and Sara Bareilles and whoever else you care to name. Incredible, incredible talent.
posted by MiraK at 7:01 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
Another masterpiece is Sunday Morning Coming Down is both understated and heartbreaking, goes straight to the heart of a particular kind of life or maybe a particular phase of life (if we're lucky). This man was a lyrical god, in the same leagues as Leonard Cohen and Sara Bareilles and whoever else you care to name. Incredible, incredible talent.
posted by MiraK at 7:01 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
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posted by dannyboybell at 7:27 PM on September 29
posted by dannyboybell at 7:27 PM on September 29
The one guy who explicitly told us he was fine with us speaking ill of him if we couldn't find nobody else, and I ain't got a single bad word to say about him.
posted by MarchHare at 7:29 PM on September 29 [8 favorites]
posted by MarchHare at 7:29 PM on September 29 [8 favorites]
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(On Facebook I pointed out his starring role in what he later called the career-killing "Heaven's Gate," which I said was the other great roller-skating film from 1980, with this clip.)
posted by Rash at 7:33 PM on September 29 [4 favorites]
(On Facebook I pointed out his starring role in what he later called the career-killing "Heaven's Gate," which I said was the other great roller-skating film from 1980, with this clip.)
posted by Rash at 7:33 PM on September 29 [4 favorites]
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posted by constraint at 7:34 PM on September 29
posted by constraint at 7:34 PM on September 29
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Both songs painful as hell, written beautifully, perfectly.
I've lived both of them. He nailed each, absolutely true.
Movies? OK, cool. But whatever. It's his writing for me.
He gave us so much. A great life. I'm grateful he was here.
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posted by dancestoblue at 7:55 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Both songs painful as hell, written beautifully, perfectly.
I've lived both of them. He nailed each, absolutely true.
Movies? OK, cool. But whatever. It's his writing for me.
He gave us so much. A great life. I'm grateful he was here.
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posted by dancestoblue at 7:55 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
The Highwaymen singing "The Highwayman" in a 1990 concert. (That's Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:57 PM on September 29 [11 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:57 PM on September 29 [11 favorites]
A favorite movie of mine from back when is "Payback" (despite its problematic lead). Kristofferson plays one of the heavies, and his line readings are incredible. One of my favorite bad guy lines of all time is him drawling, "Tell me where John is and I'll finish you quick. I promise you won't have to find out what your left ball tastes like."
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:04 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:04 PM on September 29 [2 favorites]
Saw this via Noah Kulwin's tweet, from his biography, The Wild American:
Kristofferson's political stand helped ensure that his name received a black mark within the show-business establishment, as he said, "'Particularly in LA, I found a considerable lack of work after doing concerts for the Palestinian children and for a couple of gigs with Vanessa Redgrave and if that's the way it has to be, that's the way it has to be. If you support human rights, you gotta support them everywhere."
(Validated by search in Google Books preview)
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posted by cendawanita at 8:12 PM on September 29 [15 favorites]
Kristofferson's political stand helped ensure that his name received a black mark within the show-business establishment, as he said, "'Particularly in LA, I found a considerable lack of work after doing concerts for the Palestinian children and for a couple of gigs with Vanessa Redgrave and if that's the way it has to be, that's the way it has to be. If you support human rights, you gotta support them everywhere."
(Validated by search in Google Books preview)
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posted by cendawanita at 8:12 PM on September 29 [15 favorites]
And let's not forget one of his other great accomplishments: bringing Steve Goodman and John Prine to the world's attention.
posted by drewbage1847 at 8:37 PM on September 29 [15 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 8:37 PM on September 29 [15 favorites]
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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 8:39 PM on September 29
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 8:39 PM on September 29
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posted by hap_hazard at 8:54 PM on September 29
posted by hap_hazard at 8:54 PM on September 29
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posted by lock robster at 9:12 PM on September 29
posted by lock robster at 9:12 PM on September 29
Kristofferson had enough accomplishments for three or four careers, at least. For whatever reason, after hearing this news, I ended up rewatching "Big Top Pee Wee" where he's paired up with Pee Wee Herman as they reflect two extremely different variations of American masculinity. It's not a good movie, but Kristofferson's charisma helps keep the shambolic effort afloat.
posted by HunterFelt at 10:25 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
posted by HunterFelt at 10:25 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
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posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:38 PM on September 29
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:38 PM on September 29
Yeah I've been everywhere and I've seen any thing there is
But I never saw the light
Scared to death of dyin' so I do my best to live
Out of mind and out of sight
I have had to drink some whisky this sad night. As Hunter Thompson might've put it, he surely stomped the terra ... and definitely bombed in Birmingham.
posted by philip-random at 10:45 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
But I never saw the light
Scared to death of dyin' so I do my best to live
Out of mind and out of sight
I have had to drink some whisky this sad night. As Hunter Thompson might've put it, he surely stomped the terra ... and definitely bombed in Birmingham.
posted by philip-random at 10:45 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
... and I notice this whole damned movie is available right now.
Pat Garrett + Billy the Kid
it's something of a mess but it nevertheless owns a significant chunk of my soul.
posted by philip-random at 10:58 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
Pat Garrett + Billy the Kid
it's something of a mess but it nevertheless owns a significant chunk of my soul.
posted by philip-random at 10:58 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
Drinking whiskey, watching youtube clips of the Highwaymen and other videos posted above (thank you all), and realizing that he and my dad were Rhodes Scholars at the same time, and wishing my dad was still alive to ask him about it.
We were remembering him standing up for Sinead, talking about him earlier this evening. Just a stand up guy, all around.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:17 PM on September 29 [6 favorites]
We were remembering him standing up for Sinead, talking about him earlier this evening. Just a stand up guy, all around.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:17 PM on September 29 [6 favorites]
I’m hoping this link to a Bluesky post contains the included link to a lengthy interview of Mr. Krisofferson soma years ago by Ethan Hawke. I found it to be a comforting read today. Thank you for lovely tribute, os tuberoes.
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Bluesky
posted by Silverstone at 11:33 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
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Bluesky
posted by Silverstone at 11:33 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]
I posted my dot already but reading some of the comments here made me think some more about Kristofferson, who's Sunday Morning Coming Down is my favourite song about drinking. It subverts the classic, celebratory nature of most drinking songs and quite pellucidly captures the dread loneliness of a Sunday after a night of heavy drinking. For someone who has had chronic issues with substance use disorder(alcohol) It rings true for me still, all these years later, in a way very few things have from my early youth and it has stuck with me because of that. The only other song I can think of that has captured that same existential darkness around substance use for me is Ugly Sunday from Mark Lanegan's first solo album The Winding Sheet. I'm sure Ugly Sunday has some of the same DNA as Sunday Morning Coming Down.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 11:45 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 11:45 PM on September 29 [1 favorite]
His charisma even had Kermit the Frog turning green with jealousy during this duet with Miss Piggy (I love how Kris could not keep a straight face during her antics).
posted by straight at 1:51 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
posted by straight at 1:51 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
I love Kris's own rendition of Sunday Mornin Comin Down so much better than the much more popular Johnny Cash version.
Never had a substance abuse issue myself, but by god I've been there putting on my cleanest dirty shirt and stumbling out to meet a silent weekend morning. What a great song.
posted by MiraK at 3:04 AM on September 30
Never had a substance abuse issue myself, but by god I've been there putting on my cleanest dirty shirt and stumbling out to meet a silent weekend morning. What a great song.
posted by MiraK at 3:04 AM on September 30
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posted by kabong the wiser at 3:04 AM on September 30
posted by kabong the wiser at 3:04 AM on September 30
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:39 AM on September 30
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:39 AM on September 30
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posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 5:11 AM on September 30
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 5:11 AM on September 30
I really like a couple of his later - rather elegiac - numbers; there's this one -Closer to The Bone, title of both the album and the song, and this one - The Last thing to go from the album This Old Road
posted by Wrick at 5:53 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
posted by Wrick at 5:53 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
In 1991 The Highwaymen were on tour and appeared on a New Zealand television show. The host asked if they thought anything was wrong with the United States of America.
Kristofferson: Well, other than the fact that it reminds me a lot of the flag-waving and choreographed patriotism we had back in Nazi Germany half a century ago, the fact that we have a one-party system which is in control of all three branches of our government, a lap dog media that's cranking out propaganda for the administration that would make a Nazi blush... other than that, we're doing pretty good.
He was a real one.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:39 AM on September 30 [13 favorites]
Kristofferson: Well, other than the fact that it reminds me a lot of the flag-waving and choreographed patriotism we had back in Nazi Germany half a century ago, the fact that we have a one-party system which is in control of all three branches of our government, a lap dog media that's cranking out propaganda for the administration that would make a Nazi blush... other than that, we're doing pretty good.
He was a real one.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:39 AM on September 30 [13 favorites]
I came late to his recordings of his songs, growing up with other covers; I realize that Johnny Cash can sing anything and it has that dark somber sound, but Kris could do that with his phrasing and timing. So long pardner, and thanks for everything.
posted by winesong at 8:41 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
posted by winesong at 8:41 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
He brought a lot of beauty and joy and solace to this world. I trust he will receive the same in the next.
posted by pattern juggler at 9:25 AM on September 30
posted by pattern juggler at 9:25 AM on September 30
My parents became friends with him when they were neighbors. I know they miss him.
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posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 10:18 AM on September 30 [2 favorites]
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posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 10:18 AM on September 30 [2 favorites]
I was young when Me and Bobby McGhee came out, and I was just passionately in love with that song. When I found out that it had been written by Kristofferson, I was so stunned. Written by a man!! I couldn’t believe it! So then I decided I should delve into everything else he did because clearly he was meant for me.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:44 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:44 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]
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posted by cmfletcher at 11:35 AM on September 30
posted by cmfletcher at 11:35 AM on September 30
Mishima's novel The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea .
Kris Kristofferson and Sarah Miles
posted by hortense at 11:52 AM on September 30
Kris Kristofferson and Sarah Miles
posted by hortense at 11:52 AM on September 30
As Dylan said, “You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris, because he changed everything.”
Saw him once with the Highwaymen at Farm Aid, of whom he later exclaimed, “I just wish I was more aware of how lucky I was to share a stage with those people. I had no idea that two of them would be done so soon. Hell, I was up there and I had all my heroes with me. These are guys whose ashtrays I used to clean. I’m kinda amazed I wasn’t more amazed.”
Indeed, a decade after that show two were already gone, Waylon departing in 2002, and Cash in 2003. And now, who'd ever have bet, Willie, at 91, is the last man standing.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 12:06 PM on September 30 [3 favorites]
Saw him once with the Highwaymen at Farm Aid, of whom he later exclaimed, “I just wish I was more aware of how lucky I was to share a stage with those people. I had no idea that two of them would be done so soon. Hell, I was up there and I had all my heroes with me. These are guys whose ashtrays I used to clean. I’m kinda amazed I wasn’t more amazed.”
Indeed, a decade after that show two were already gone, Waylon departing in 2002, and Cash in 2003. And now, who'd ever have bet, Willie, at 91, is the last man standing.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 12:06 PM on September 30 [3 favorites]
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I first learned that Kristofferson was a musician in a rather novel way: from a crossword puzzle.
The clue was simple enough: "Me and Bobby McGee songwriter". I initially had no idea so I tried getting all the crosses. Slowly, I saw the name emerge... "KRISTONERSOFF"
...I (high school age) was confused. I asked my Dad. He hinted that I should check the puzzle's theme. Sure enough: the puzzle title was "On/off switch" Ha!
Even then I appreciated the craft of Bobby McGee -- "windshield wipers slapping time" is so evocative, and how he fits that line inside another rhyme... wow! -- but I didn't fully appreciate Kristofferson's work (and life!) until later, starting with the Highwaymen. Cash, Waylon, and Willie are better solo artists, in my opinion, but Kristofferson was my favorite on a "who would you like to have dinner with" level.
Part of that was my learning he was, like myself, a college rugby player. I was a decent player myself, but I never got written up in Sports Illustrated.
posted by Theophrastus Johnson at 2:05 PM on September 30 [2 favorites]
I first learned that Kristofferson was a musician in a rather novel way: from a crossword puzzle.
The clue was simple enough: "Me and Bobby McGee songwriter". I initially had no idea so I tried getting all the crosses. Slowly, I saw the name emerge... "KRISTONERSOFF"
...I (high school age) was confused. I asked my Dad. He hinted that I should check the puzzle's theme. Sure enough: the puzzle title was "On/off switch" Ha!
Even then I appreciated the craft of Bobby McGee -- "windshield wipers slapping time" is so evocative, and how he fits that line inside another rhyme... wow! -- but I didn't fully appreciate Kristofferson's work (and life!) until later, starting with the Highwaymen. Cash, Waylon, and Willie are better solo artists, in my opinion, but Kristofferson was my favorite on a "who would you like to have dinner with" level.
Part of that was my learning he was, like myself, a college rugby player. I was a decent player myself, but I never got written up in Sports Illustrated.
posted by Theophrastus Johnson at 2:05 PM on September 30 [2 favorites]
I haven't seen anyone anywhere mention his role in the ABC miniseries Amerika, but I enjoyed his performance in that. Along with all the music, of course.
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posted by bryon at 2:23 PM on September 30
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posted by bryon at 2:23 PM on September 30
Don't get him Pistofferson.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:14 PM on September 30 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 3:14 PM on September 30 [1 favorite]
He was absolutely charming in a long 1984 interview with David Letterman, where he talks about Willy Nelson, a film he just completed which he fears no one will ever see
I think the movie he mentions was Songwriter (1984), with Rip Torn and others.
I've always loved him and Treat William in Flashpoint (YouTube, full movie), his other 1984 movie with Rip Torn, Jean Smart, Tess Harper, Miguel Ferrer, and Kurtwood Smith.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:35 PM on September 30 [1 favorite]
I think the movie he mentions was Songwriter (1984), with Rip Torn and others.
I've always loved him and Treat William in Flashpoint (YouTube, full movie), his other 1984 movie with Rip Torn, Jean Smart, Tess Harper, Miguel Ferrer, and Kurtwood Smith.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:35 PM on September 30 [1 favorite]
I just saw Patti Smith in concert this evening. The band played Sunday Morning Come Down - Tony Shanahan singing. Got the crowd singing along. Felt like an appropriate tribute.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:46 PM on October 1 [2 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 11:46 PM on October 1 [2 favorites]
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Feeling Mortal
posted by the primroses were over at 5:07 PM on September 29 [3 favorites]