Kris Kristofferson started off in the Carole King mode, writing great songs that were hits for everybody but him. So I thought I’d give him the spotlight today as a singer, too.
‘Me and Bobby McGee’ was a big hit for Janis Joplin, maybe the biggest hit of any Kristofferson song. But he does it a lot of justice as a performer. Here’s a link to Joplin’s version, recorded shortly before she died. She and Kristofferson were an item once upon a time.
This song contains some absolutely stunning lyrics, starting with that classic line from the chorus: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” But the whole thing is strong. I love that opening image (“Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the train, feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans”) and this poignant line toward the end: “I’d trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday.”
I recently read a fascinating profile of Kris Kristofferson (by Ethan Hawke, of all people) in Rolling Stone magazine. Hawke painted Kristofferson as a modern-day renaissance man and an unabashed sentimentalist and political liberal who is nonetheless about as “manly” a man as can be.
I’ve started writing this review in my head about ten times already but I’ve always stopped short of typing it out because it’s never felt quite right. 
Speaking of ugly singers…
I’m taking another break between Elvis Costello weeks, but he’s managed to sneak in anyway. Today’s song, a snappy number from Jenny Lewis’ latest album 
