Kris Kristofferson stands as a monumental figure in American music, his songwriting prowess having enriched the nation’s songbook for over half a century. From Janis Joplin’s poignant rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee,” echoing the iconic line Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose, to Waylon Jennings’s sorrowful take on unrequited love in “The Taker,” Kristofferson’s lyrics resonate deeply. His journey to becoming a celebrated songwriter, however, was anything but conventional.
Born in Brownsville, Texas, on June 22, 1936, Kristofferson’s early life took an academic turn. By the late 1950s, he was crafting his own songs while studying as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University in England, ultimately earning a degree in English Literature. Prior to his 1970 breakthrough album Kristofferson, he even recorded an album under the moniker Kris Carson. His path then led him to the U.S. Army, where he served as a helicopter pilot and even taught English literature at West Point. Coming from a military family – his paternal grandfather served in the Swedish Army – Kristofferson experienced frequent relocation during his childhood due to his father’s military career. However, in 1965, Kristofferson made a life-altering decision: he left the military to pursue his songwriting dreams in Nashville, a move that initially led to his family disowning him.
His dedication soon bore fruit. By 1966, Kristofferson achieved early success with “Viet Nam Blues,” recorded by Dave Dudley, which climbed into the Top 20 on the country charts. The ensuing years saw a string of hits penned by Kristofferson grace the charts. Roy Drusky recorded “Jody and the Kid,” Billy Walker and the Tennessee Walkers charted with “From the Bottle to the Bottom” in 1969, and Ray Stevens achieved crossover success on both country and pop charts with Kristofferson’s “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”—which later became a No. 1 hit for Johnny Cash in 1970. Faron Young’s rendition of “Your Time’s Comin’” also soared into the top five on the country chart, solidifying Kristofferson’s reputation as a gifted songwriter.
Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, Kris Kristofferson continued to create impactful songs. Titles like “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” and “I Won’t Mention It Again” further cemented his place in music history. During this period, he also ventured into acting, starring in over 50 films, including the iconic 1975 musical A Star is Born alongside Barbra Streisand.
Kris Kristofferson in 1970, a pivotal year in his early songwriting success and the release of his debut album.
Kristofferson’s prolific output includes more than two dozen albums spanning five decades, as well as collaborative albums with music luminaries such as Willie Nelson and Rita Coolidge. He also joined forces with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash in the legendary country supergroup The Highwaymen, touring and recording three albums with them between 1985 and 1995.
His contributions to songwriting have been widely recognized. Kristofferson was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004, accolades that underscore his enduring influence.
Numerous artists were the first to bring Kristofferson’s songs to life, and countless others have continued to reinterpret his stories over the years. In 2021, Willie Nelson revisited Kristofferson’s 1973 composition “Why Me,” offering a new rendition of a song he initially covered on his 1979 album Sings Kristofferson.
Here we explore a selection of standout songs penned by Kris Kristofferson in the late 1960s and 1970s, which were first recorded by other artists, highlighting the breadth and depth of his songwriting talent.
Iconic Songs by Kris Kristofferson First Made Famous by Others
1. “Me and Bobby McGee” – Roger Miller (1968)
Written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster
Before Kris Kristofferson himself recorded “Me and Bobby McGee” for his 1970 self-titled debut album, the song was initially brought to life by the honky-tonk legend Roger Miller (1936-1992) in 1968. “Me and Bobby McGee” narrates the tale of two lovers journeying together, only to eventually part ways. Interestingly, Kristofferson initially conceived “Bobby” as a woman in the song’s narrative.
Miller’s version reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. However, the song achieved even greater heights when Janis Joplin’s posthumous version propelled it to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1971. Joplin, like many subsequent artists, reinterpreted “Bobby” as a male character. Released as a single from her final album, Pearl, Joplin’s rendition became an instant classic.
Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me
“Me and Bobby McGee” has since been covered by a diverse array of artists, including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, the Grateful Dead, Melissa Etheridge, Dottie West, and the Statler Brothers, demonstrating its timeless appeal and universal themes.
2. “Once More with Feeling” – Jerry Lee Lewis (1970)
Written by Kris Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein
Kristofferson waited nearly a decade before recording “Once More with Feeling” himself, finally including it on his ninth album, Shake Hands with the Devil, in 1979. However, he first shared this poignant ballad with the rock and roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis, who recorded it for his 1970 album, She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye.
Lewis’s powerful rendition of “Once More with Feeling” resonated deeply with audiences, reaching No. 1 on the Cash Box Country Singles chart and No. 2 on the Billboard country chart, underscoring the song’s emotional impact and Kristofferson’s songwriting versatility.
We’re just going through the motions
Of the parts we’ve learned to play
3. “I’ve Got to Have You” – Carly Simon (1971)
Written by Kris Kristofferson
“I’ve Got to Have You,” a deeply personal song by Kristofferson, which he eventually recorded in 1974, was first released by Carly Simon. She chose it as the closing acoustic ballad for her acclaimed second album, Anticipation. While the album’s title track reached No. 3 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart, “I’ve Got to Have You” was released as a single in Australia, achieving Top 10 chart success there in 1972, highlighting its international appeal.
Holding onto talking, saying nothing.
Knowing in a moment I could lose you.
4. “The Taker” – Waylon Jennings (1971)
Written by Kris Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein
“The Taker” tells a cautionary tale of a man who takes his partner for granted, only to lose her. Waylon Jennings recorded “The Taker” as the title track of his 1971 album The Taker/Tulsa. Kristofferson later recorded the song for his second album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, in 1972. This album was produced by Fred Foster, Kristofferson’s co-writer on “Me and Bobby McGee” and founder of Monument Records. Foster, who also played a key role in the careers of Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, brought his expertise to Kristofferson’s recording. Roy Orbison would later record Kristofferson’s “Something They Can’t Take Away,” further cementing these interconnected musical relationships.
He’s a charmer, he’ll charm her with money
And manners that I never learned
5. “Something They Can’t Take Away” – Roy Orbison (1976)
Written by Kris Kristofferson
“Something They Can’t Take Away” was first recorded and released by Roy Orbison in 1976 on his album Regeneration. This album marked Orbison’s return to Monument Records after departing in 1964, with Fred Foster once again at the production helm. “Something They Can’t Take Away” is a poignant ballad about enduring love and memory.
Orbison’s emotive voice beautifully conveys the heartache of lost love, emphasizing the lasting power of cherished memories.
All too soon we were blown upon
Our separate ways again
Kris Kristofferson’s songs, interpreted by a diverse range of artists, continue to resonate with audiences worldwide, a testament to his enduring songwriting genius and the timeless quality of his narratives.
