Guy Clark, a friend, told Kris one night to "Go Break a Heart", as he was going on stage, instead of the old sawbone "Go Break a Leg." It seems somehow the right thing to say. These are the lyrics from Kris's song "Final Attraction" the last song on the CD. All of Kris's friends and those he loved. The Old Troubador comes through on this CD.
"Come on boy, get back up there
You can do it one more time
For Hank Williams, go break a heart
And Janis Joplin, go break a heart
And Waylon Jennings, go break a heart
And John Lennon, go break a heart
And Roger Miller, "
And Jimi Hendrix, "
And Mickey Newbury, "
(add on....)John and June Cash
Vince Matthews, Shell Silverstein,
And maybe one time for me,
Go break a heart"
This is the barebones of Kris Kristofferson; superb, poetic lyrics and his distinctive voice, like old fine whiskey. He is approaching 70, and he plays on this CD with his guitar and a few old friends. It is bleak and oh, so sweet. The lyrics in these songs break your heart, as Kris wishes. They are real, and we know exactly what Kris is saying. This is the man who won our hearts and souls with his gravelly, whiskey voice, putting his honesty on the line for us.
Kris was a Rhodes Scholar who turned down a position at West Point to work as a janitor in Nashville. Soon he was known for his song writing and voice, writing with Shel Silverstein, "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times." Kris Kristofferson is known as a living legend at this point in his career. But, he tells us he is the same man he has always been. He talks of freedom in many of his songs. "If you took freedom out of the songs, you'd have very few Kristofferson songs," he laughs.
"If I had to describe it in one word, I'd say it's honest," he says of "This Old Road". "It's all pretty close to the bone, about my own personal journey. It's about what sense I've made of my life up to now."
"Pilgrim's Progress" is a song that Kristofferson says, "tells the truth, a progress report."
The CD pays tribute to those who have gone on "The Last Thing to Go," wherein he salutes "those of us who took things seriously, who were trying to move people;
"The Show Goes On," a song he calls "a fond look back at the way we were putting ourselves out there and trying to create something special.
" On "Wild American" he reminds listeners of some personal heroes; people like Native American activist John Trudell and others who "happen when you need `em" like Merle Haggard and Steve Earle.
"Final Attraction," a song that was inspired by watching the communication between Willie Nelson and a large crowd of listeners. Go Break A Heart"
"In the News" takes a hard look at modern-day life with the mention of Lacy Peterson refrain of "Read about the sorry way he done somebody's daughter. Chained her to a heavy thing and threw her in the water. And she sank into the darkness with their baby son inside her. A little piece of truth and beauty died."
"The Burden of Freedom" focuses on "the fact that freedom is a double-edged sword," Kristofferson says. "When I wrote it back in the late 60s, it was about leaving the path I had been prepared for--West Point and all that--but it's mostly about doing what you believe is right whether that makes you enemies or not."
"Chase the Feeling," which describes destructive behavior-"it takes one to know one, baby"
"Holy Creation" is his beautiful composition. He says the song was inspired by his eight children, whom he calls his "greatest legacy."
"Thank You for a Life." "The best love songs can be taken on a couple different levels, so that song is being sung to my wife but also to God," he says. "In the end, it's all love."
This CD is about love, freedom, and the people, like BK and me, who love Kris Kristofferson and his music. A critic has said of this CD, "And on this, the most intensely personal album of his career, he goes the extra mile, creating a thing of rare beauty, grace, and eloquence." Kris never thought he was a good singer. He was a good songwriter, he does agree. He didn't like singing his songs, but others did, like Janis Joplin. It wasn't until after Joplin died from a drug overdose in October 1970 that Kristofferson first heard her recording of his song.
"She had hooked it. It was a very emotional experience for me" he said. That's how we feel now Kris. You hooked it. This is an emotional experience for those of us who love your music. Highly, highly recommended, prisrob 5-19-06
"The angels were singing a sad country song/it sounded like something of yours..." I can't help but think that maybe Kris is making a touching reference here to the late Johnny Cash.
There's something about that weathered voice, makes you feel like he's there, that he's lived it and that he's sitting down to tell you about it. I think that's what initially made me such a big fan of Kris Kristofferson. It's definitely what makes this, his latest album, easily a quick favorite.
His music this time around, as always, is simple in its delivery and yet, if you take a close look at the words, the language...it's blistered and it's poetry. Kris remains country music's own Bob Dylan. Who else could write something so evocative as that line in Me & Bobby McGee that still grabs me: "...feelin' nearly faded as my jeans"?
Do yourself a favor and listen especially to tracks #1,3, & 11.
Kristofferson was such a part of my growing up and growing old, that I knew I would buy this CD when it first came out. Then in reading the reviews I bought it at that moment. His music has touched me and carried me thru the years. This is an intimate moment for Kristofferson and the listener with just Kris, a guitar and your open heart. His plea for justice and his acceptance that justice is hard to come by but mercy is what we need has been a cornerstone in my life. This CD in all its understated glory is so far, as already stated, the masterpiece of his work. This man has totally given us a view into his life and we can see our reflection there. Thank you again Kris, for giving us a little glimpse of truth and beauty.
This CD just arrived today, about 5 hours ago. I have listened to it about 5 times now. It's also gotten me wanting some of his other music, so I got out my Essential Kris Kristofferson discs. It is so good to have fantastic songs to listen to again. I am a little older, but even my beautiful 25 year old daughter loves this CD.