I happened to get an issue of Rolling Stone magazine this year, and there’s a story called Kris Kristofferson: An Outlaw at 80, about how “one of the greatest songwriters of all time (covered by Johnny Cash… Elvis Presley and some 500 others)” was experiencing an “increasingly debilitating memory loss.” It turns out it wasn’t Alzheimer’s or dementia, but Lyme disease.
His first album, released as Kristofferson in 1970, was rereleased, with a nicer cover, a year later, as Me and Bobby McGee, named for the posthumous #1 song by Janis Joplin that he wrote. Some of the songs on that album include Help Me Make It Through the Night, For the Good Times, and Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down, all hits for other people.
His second album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, featured Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again), a minor hit for Roger Miller, and got to #26 on the pop charts for Kristofferson. It also contains my favorite Kris Kristofferson lyrics, from The Pilgrim, Chapter 33:
He’s a poet, an’ he’s a picker, he’s a prophet, an’ 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’ ev’ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home
His biggest single recording was Why Me, which got to #16 in 1973, from his fourth album, Jesus Was a Capricorn. He also recorded with his second wife Rita Coolidge.
Kris Kristofferson is also an actor, appearing in several films, before becoming a Movie Star in A Star is Born, with Barbra Streisand.
Now that he has most of his memory back, he’s listening to the old songs again, “to get reacquainted with his life’s work. ‘It just takes you back like a picture of something would,’ he says. ‘I was also interested in seeing if they still sounded good to me,’ he continues. ‘I’ve been pleasantly surprised, particularly with this one.’ He points to his third album, Border Lord. ‘I can remember at the time being so disappointed at the reception it got.’
“His wife [since 1983, Lisa] sits to his left and looks at him, beaming at his recall. ‘To me, the song is what matters, not necessarily the performances,’ he says as he moves a napkin to examine a picture of him in his twenties, looking disheveled in his meager Nashville bedroom. ‘Just the words and melody – that’s what moves your emotions.'”
“‘I may have some more creative work in me,’ he finally admits, then concludes on a characteristically impassive note. “But if I don’t, it’s not going to hurt me.'”
LISTEN TO:
“Blame It on the Stones”
“To Beat the Devil”
“Me and Bobby McGee”
“Best of All Possible Worlds”
“Help Me Make It Through the Night” which gets ‘lie’ and ‘lay’ right and wrong in the same song
“The Law Is for Protection of the People”
“For the Good Times”
“Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”
“The Silver Tongued Devil and I”
“Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)”
“The Pilgrim, Chapter 33”
“Nobody Wins”
“Why Me”
So he recovered from Lyme disease? I am glad to read that this is possible.I know somebody who suffered from Lyme disease some years ago and is still ill.She is paralysed and sits in a wheelchair.
I didn’t know he’d had Lyme disease but so glad he got his memory back. Can’t believe he’s 80 now as it just seems like yesterday that I was enjoying his songs, sung by him or others! Oh man…life is too short!
Leslie
abcw team
Wonderful tribute … I didn’t know he was Ill but I am glad to see he is on way of recovery and will stay for lots of years to come…being his age that is not something one can depend on
Have a nice ABC-day / – week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (ABC-team)
http://melodymusic.nl/19k-20-sept/
I love this introduction! I bought a card and framed it which said, “If cats could talk, they would tell lies.” I say, “You are lying” quite a lot to my feline friends. Jax expecially feels if he can see the bottom of his bowl anywhere that it’s empty- no pushing food around for him. I may have solved that problem- I bought a continuous feeding contraption. I’m pleased that he is eating less instead of gobbling the whole bowl like he did with a regular bowl. Go figure!
Excellent tribute to Kris and his career ~ hard to believe he is 80 ~
Happy Week to you ~ ^_^
I always loved “Blame It on the Stones,” with its blatant echo of “Bringing In the Sheaves.” It got some airplay on our self-described “underground” FM station.
This is the most perverse version of “Help Me Make It Through the Night” ever:
I’m so glad to find out that his memory is returning. He had so much talent that I hope he can stir some of those juices again. 80 and going strong. Thats terrific.
A nice posting and good to know that the effects of Lyme disease can be reversed.
As someone who always worries about brain damage due to (confirmed) Lyme disease and (suspected) swine flu, the accidental repeat in the CBS story threw me for a loop. 😀
Great to know him through your post, Roger! Thank you:)
I always get to learn something new here. Thanks for this informative post.
Happy ABCW!
Interesting.
This is whom my son is named after. 🙂
Help me make it through the night is my favorite. Time marches on for all of my favorite singers/song writers. 80 is about their age.
Ann
It seems lyme disease is very debilitating. Only know his name, but haven’t followed what he did in life.
I only knew him as an actor !
Janis Joplin did a good cover but I much prefer the original version of Me and Bobby McGee.
He’s one of my favorites!
I like his take on life.