Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson

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Good Morning,John

New Hall of Fame inductee Kristofferson is songwriter at heart.The Hall of Fame inducted its first honorees in 1998. Inductees must be Texas born.

Kristofferson was added August 17th to the Hall of Fame along with two other country music greats, Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Bush.

KRIS'S TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH

I was his janitor for a year and a half at Columbia Records Studio, and I pitched John every song I ever wrote. He never cut any of them then, but he was always encouraging. He even carried one set of my lyrics around in his wallet, and at the time that was enough for me. Then when he got his television show, it was a really important phase in the development of country music here in Nashville. He brought in a lot of people who weren't normally in Nashville, like Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Ray Charles. He put me on the show, too, and he recorded my song "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down" and made it Record of the Year. I never had to work another job again. John was my hero a long time before I ever met him. He represented so much that appealed to me -- like freedom. He was willing and able to be the champion of people who didn't have one. And I think the power of his performance came from the tension between this man who was deeply spiritual and also a real wild man. I can see how rappers would love that "I shot a man in Reno" attitude. But to me, he doesn't represent danger, he represents integrity. And, Jesus, that's just what we can't afford to lose today.

Johnny Cash has always seemed larger than life to me. He is a true American hero, beloved the world over as much for his kindness and compassion and championing of the underdog as for the power of his art. He's been my inspiration, my faithful friend, my champion - a constant oasis of unconditional love and support. His fierce independence and free spirit, balanced with his love of family, children and his fellow man, will stand as a shining example of the best of what it means to be human. And he was damned funny, even in the darkest times.

"I love you, John

In the cold and Holy darkness

You were always shining brighter than a star

God bless you, John

For the love and joy you've given

And the living inspiration that you are"

Kris' Eulogy to Johnny Cash

"I’d like to begin with a prayer; Thank you Father for blessing us with the

presence of this wonderful man whose life and work has been an inspiration and salvation

for so many all over the world. Comfort the members of his beloved family who are

experiencing the shock and grief of losing both John and June in what seems like the

blink of an eye, and let us find strength in the knowledge that their love and kindness and

generosity live on in the hearts of those whose lives they touched. We ask this in the

name of your son and our savior Jesus Christ. Amen."

"John once accused me of writing The Pilgrim: Ch. 33 about him. He was surely

a walking contradiction. A deeply spiritual, compassionate man, willing and able to

champion the voiceless, the downtrodden, the underdogs, who was also something of a

Holy Terror. Abe Lincoln with a wild side. He was a dark, dangerous force of nature that

somehow seemed to stand for Freedom, and Justice, and mercy for his fellow man. And

he always has. And he always will. All over the world. Over the years he evolved into the

patriarchal figure that well-hid the wild boy and revealed the heart of a man in love with

his wife and his kids, and your kids, and my kids, and eventually everybody. He

represented the best of America. We’re not going to see his like again.

I can’t really talk about John without talking about June because they were a

team. When I was a janitor at Colombia Records I pitched him every song I ever wrote,

giving them to June or Luther Perkins. They took me in like part of the family. They did

that with a lot of us. Guys like Mickey Newbury, and Shel Silverstein, and Vince

Matthews, and Chris Gantry. When we got too starved of any positive feedback, we

would work up the courage to call and see if we were welcome to visit them. I don’t

recall them ever turning us down. And we always left them with our spiritual batteries

recharged and ready for the battle for acceptance in the magical world of music. They

were kind and generous people, as they would later be with our families. My kids love

them like grandparents and my wife thinks they are the sweetest people on the planet. I'd

like to sing this for John, June and the family…"

Moment Of Forever

(Song: "A Moment of Forever")

Was it wonderful for you?

Was it holy as it was for me?

Did you feel the hand of destiny

That was guiding us together

You were young enough to dream

I was old enough to learn something new

I'm so glad i got to dance with you

For a moment of forever

Sometimes when you're cryin', you're happy

Sometimes you're just cryin'

I know. i know.

Come whatever happens now

Ain't it nice to know that dreams still come true

I'm so glad that i was close to you

For a moment of forever.

"KRISTOFFERSON"

Kris was goin' for a poet

A songwriter he would be

One of those dreamy people

Some people hate to see

Kris, he took slices of life

And salted it down into rhyme

He picked his own days and his ways

He arranged his own meter and time

Kris, he went out a sowing

Wild oats high and low, up and down

Now he's bringing it into harvest

And the thresher hums sweet with the sound

(Poems don't come from machines

Machines can't set life into rhyme

And you can't manufacture soul

Nor "gauge" and "chop" soulful lines)

Kris, he was goin' for lonesome

Taking himself over the road

But he's got a receipt for the toll

And he's come to get paid for the load

But Kris, he was goin' for hungry

A helicopter pilot he made

His rhymes were in time with that chopper

And his words were as slick as the blades

(But poems and songs though they're pretty

Can slip right over the head

And tunes from the hungry be pleasant

They're worth what they bring you in bread)

So Kris, he was goin' to sell 'em

His ragged Levis cried "don't fail"

But to most song-singers that got 'em

They were just one more piece of mail

Kris,he went for an oil rigger

And down in the gulf on the rig

His melodies still were bubbling

Still going for striking it big

But like the oil that covers the water

His songs covered everyone's floor

Form five years of sending his demos

And leaving them at every door

Kris, he was making a movie

Upon the screen his face would be

And while on a horse in Peru

His songs went on network TV

Someone had finally noticed

And singers of soul sang along

Now we've got to dig in our closets

For that lost Kristofferson song.

P.S.

Kris,he was goin' for a singer

And up to the top would he go

When Kris was goin' for a Grammy

(Next year I'll say)

"Hell I heard that song five years ago."

JOHNNY CASH

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	Kris Kristofferson Click on the picture to download Music Video Need Windows Media Player to play Video Good Morning,John New Hall of Fame inductee Kristofferson is songwriter at heart.The Hall of Fame inducted its first honorees in 1998. Inductees must be Texas born. Kristofferson was added August 17th to the Hall of Fame along with two other country music greats, Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Bush. KRIS'S TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH I was his janitor for a year and a half at Columbia Records Studio, and I pitched John every song I ever wrote. He never cut any of them then, but he was always encouraging. He even carried one set of my lyrics around in his wallet, and at the time that was enough for me. Then when he got his television show, it was a really important phase in the development of country music here in Nashville. He brought in a lot of people who weren't normally in Nashville, like Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Ray Charles. He put me on the show, too, and he recorded my song "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down" and made it Record of the Year. I never had to work another job again. John was my hero a long time before I ever met him. He represented so much that appealed to me -- like freedom. He was willing and able to be the champion of people who didn't have one. And I think the power of his performance came from the tension between this man who was deeply spiritual and also a real wild man. I can see how rappers would love that "I shot a man in Reno" attitude. But to me, he doesn't represent danger, he represents integrity. And, Jesus, that's just what we can't afford to lose today. Johnny Cash has always seemed larger than life to me. He is a true American hero, beloved the world over as much for his kindness and compassion and championing of the underdog as for the power of his art. He's been my inspiration, my faithful friend, my champion - a constant oasis of unconditional love and support. His fierce independence and free spirit, balanced with his love of family, children and his fellow man, will stand as a shining example of the best of what it means to be human. And he was damned funny, even in the darkest times. "I love you, John In the cold and Holy darkness You were always shining brighter than a star God bless you, John For the love and joy you've given And the living inspiration that you are" Kris' Eulogy to Johnny Cash "I’d like to begin with a prayer; Thank you Father for blessing us with the presence of this wonderful man whose life and work has been an inspiration and salvation for so many all over the world. Comfort the members of his beloved family who are experiencing the shock and grief of losing both John and June in what seems like the blink of an eye, and let us find strength in the knowledge that their love and kindness and generosity live on in the hearts of those whose lives they touched. We ask this in the name of your son and our savior Jesus Christ. Amen." "John once accused me of writing The Pilgrim: Ch. 33 about him. He was surely a walking contradiction. A deeply spiritual, compassionate man, willing and able to champion the voiceless, the downtrodden, the underdogs, who was also something of a Holy Terror. Abe Lincoln with a wild side. He was a dark, dangerous force of nature that somehow seemed to stand for Freedom, and Justice, and mercy for his fellow man. And he always has. And he always will. All over the world. Over the years he evolved into the patriarchal figure that well-hid the wild boy and revealed the heart of a man in love with his wife and his kids, and your kids, and my kids, and eventually everybody. He represented the best of America. We’re not going to see his like again. I can’t really talk about John without talking about June because they were a team. When I was a janitor at Colombia Records I pitched him every song I ever wrote, giving them to June or Luther Perkins. They took me in like part of the family. They did that with a lot of us. Guys like Mickey Newbury, and Shel Silverstein, and Vince Matthews, and Chris Gantry. When we got too starved of any positive feedback, we would work up the courage to call and see if we were welcome to visit them. I don’t recall them ever turning us down. And we always left them with our spiritual batteries recharged and ready for the battle for acceptance in the magical world of music. They were kind and generous people, as they would later be with our families. My kids love them like grandparents and my wife thinks they are the sweetest people on the planet. I'd like to sing this for John, June and the family…" Moment Of Forever (Song: "A Moment of Forever") Was it wonderful for you? Was it holy as it was for me? Did you feel the hand of destiny That was guiding us together You were young enough to dream I was old enough to learn something new I'm so glad i got to dance with you For a moment of forever Sometimes when you're cryin', you're happy Sometimes you're just cryin' I know. i know. Come whatever happens now Ain't it nice to know that dreams still come true I'm so glad that i was close to you For a moment of forever. "KRISTOFFERSON" Kris was goin' for a poet A songwriter he would be One of those dreamy people Some people hate to see Kris, he took slices of life And salted it down into rhyme He picked his own days and his ways He arranged his own meter and time Kris, he went out a sowing Wild oats high and low, up and down Now he's bringing it into harvest And the thresher hums sweet with the sound (Poems don't come from machines Machines can't set life into rhyme And you can't manufacture soul Nor "gauge" and "chop" soulful lines) Kris, he was goin' for lonesome Taking himself over the road But he's got a receipt for the toll And he's come to get paid for the load But Kris, he was goin' for hungry A helicopter pilot he made His rhymes were in time with that chopper And his words were as slick as the blades (But poems and songs though they're pretty Can slip right over the head And tunes from the hungry be pleasant They're worth what they bring you in bread) So Kris, he was goin' to sell 'em His ragged Levis cried "don't fail" But to most song-singers that got 'em They were just one more piece of mail Kris,he went for an oil rigger And down in the gulf on the rig His melodies still were bubbling Still going for striking it big But like the oil that covers the water His songs covered everyone's floor Form five years of sending his demos And leaving them at every door Kris, he was making a movie Upon the screen his face would be And while on a horse in Peru His songs went on network TV Someone had finally noticed And singers of soul sang along Now we've got to dig in our closets For that lost Kristofferson song. P.S. Kris,he was goin' for a singer And up to the top would he go When Kris was goin' for a Grammy (Next year I'll say) "Hell I heard that song five years ago." JOHNNY CASH This site is best viewed at 1024 X 768 resolution