After Kris Kristofferson's ninth and tenth solo albums, Shake Hands With the Devil (1979) and To the Bone (1980), missed the charts, he did not make another album on his own for more than six years, in the meantime contributing to three albums recorded with others: Kris, Willie, Dolly & Brenda... The Winning Hand (1982) (with Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Brenda Lee); the soundtrack Music From Songwriter (1984) (with Nelson), which contained four Kristofferson solo tracks; and Highwayman (with Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings). The last was a major success, topping the country charts, and probably interested Mercury Records in giving Kristofferson a new contract as a solo artist. The result was his 11th solo album, Repossessed, its title containing a telling double meaning. Kristofferson billed his backup group, the Borderlords, on the cover, a reasonable decision since they included such notable figures as Donnie Fritts and Billy Swan, who occasionally stepped in to sing a verse of a song here and there in place of the leader. Also, the tracks had a true country-rock band feel, and Kristofferson sometimes introduced the songs or called out solos as if they were playing a set in a club. The tracks thus had a kinetic feel, and that was all to the good since the songs themselves were not very impressive. 1986-1987 was a period of political unrest, as left-wing activists feared another Vietnam in El Salvador, and Kristofferson explored that concern in "What About Me," while such songs as "Shipwrecked in the Eighties," "They Killed Him," and "Anthem '84" reflected on various aspects of politics and war. But there were no real insights to be found in the songwriter's sketchy and abstract descriptions, either in these songs or the more philosophical statements such as "The Heart" (chorus: "The heart is all that matters in the end") and "Love Is the Way." In a lull in his film career, Kristofferson promoted Repossessed with extensive touring and managed to keep it in the country album charts six months, with "They Killed Him" (which Bob Dylan had thought enough of to cover) getting into the lower reaches of the singles charts. But it was not one of his better records.
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
REPOSSESSED
Mercury 830406October/1986
Produced by Chips Moman
We've seen a lot of action. This old shoulder-ghost and me. And we've made it through the scene of every crime; and every time they've shot us down, we've really crasehed and burned and risen from the ashes every time. And I thank God that somehow I'm still on the road now, and running for Freedom my friend. And the silver-tongued devil is back in the saddle and headed for trouble again. - Kris Kristofferson -
1.
MEAN OLD MAN
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »If I look like a mean old man that's what I am
If I look like a mean old man that's what I am
If I look like a mean old man who'll do you any way he can
To break your heart and kiss your hand that's what I am
And if I look like a good old friend that's what I am
If I look like a good old friend that's what I am
If I look like a good old friend who's good at bending with the wind
To be your friend right to the end that's what I am
And if I look like a voodoo doll that's what I am
If I look like a voodoo doll that's what I am
If I look like a voodoo doll who takes his licking standing tall
Who'd rather bite you back than crawl that's what I am
[ harmonica - guitar ] If I look like your uncle Bob that's what I am
If I look like your uncle Bob that's what I am
If I look like your uncle Bob who likes to slap you on the back and rob
While he still can do the job that's what I am
And if I look like a voodoo doll...
**********
2.
SHIPWRECKED IN THE EIGHTIES
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »Well you fight like the devil to just keep your head above water
Chained to whatever you got that you can't throw away
And you're shootin' through space on this river of life that you're ridin'
And it's whirlin' and suckin' you deeper on down every day
So you turn to your trusty old partner to share some old feelings
And you find to your shock that your faithful companion is gone
And the truth slowly dawns that you're lost and alone in deep water
And you don't even know how much longer there is to go on
[ harmonica ] Like an old Holy Bible you clung to through so many seasons
With the rules of survival in words you could still understand
When they prove something wrong you believed in so long you go crazy
And you're so close to folding the cards that you hold in your hand
Singing Holy Toledo I can't see the light anymore
All those horizons that I used to guide me are gone
And the darkness is driving me farther away from the shore
Throw me a rhyme or a reason to try anymore
**********
3.
THEY KILLED HIM
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »There was a man named Mahatma Ghandi he would not bow down he would not fight
He knew the deal was down and dirty and nothing wrong could make it right away
But he knew his duty and the price he had to pay
Just another holy man who tried to make a stand my God they killed him
Another man from Atlanta Georgia by the name of Martin Luther King
He shook the land like rolling thunder and made the bells of freedom ring today
With a dream of beauty that they could not burn away
Just another holy man who dared to be a friend my God they killed him
[ guitar ] (My God they killed him)
The only son of God Almighty the holy one called Jesus Christ
Healed the lame and fed the hungry and for his love they took his life away
On the road to glory where the story never ends
Just the holy son of man we'll never understand my God they killed him
Sing about Mahatma Ghandi sing of Martin Luther King
Sing Of Jesus Christ Almighty and the brothers Kennedy
**********
4.
WHAT ABOUT ME
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »I seen another soldier who got wasted in the war
He said he left his soul there overseas
The notion he defended doesn't matter anymore
And circumstance had brought him to his knees
We sat there in the stilness of a cold and empty room
Down the hall I heard a baby cry
He looked up from the potion he was cooking in a spoon
And nailed me with the anger in his eye
He said do you really believe in freedom I said I do he said oh what about me
[ guitar ] They killed both of her parents in an undercover war
For wantin' all their children to be free
She said it's even sadder that it's in El Salvador
They named it for the Saviour don't you see
Suddenly the truth was like a blinding flash of light holy thunder rolled across the sky
I stared into the wonder of the Warrior Jesus Christ
And destiny was burning in his eyes
He said do you really believe in freedom I said I do he said oh what about me
And the man said do you really believe in freedom
I said I do he said oh what about me
And the Sandinista said do you really believe in freedom
I said I do he said oh what about me
**********
5.
EL GAVILAN (THE HAWK)
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »You gotta make your own rules child you gotta break your own chains
The dreams that possess you can blossom and bless you or run you insane
The moment is yours now to lay on the line
The past just don't matter tomorrow won't mind
Lay down beside me show me a sign let me feel your spirit running with mine
I don't deserve you I'm just a man but I swear I'll love you just as hard as I can
[ harmonica ] Storm on the mountain stars in the sky running for glory freedom to fly
Will you remember way down the road somebody loves you more than you know
**********
6.
EL COYOTE
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »They call him a bandit and you know the notches that he ought to wear on his gun
He sees you through eyes he's partially blinded from staring to long at the sun
But he's true to his school and he's nobody's fool and he's lucky to still be alive
The wolf pack will die when it's scattered by man lonesome coyotes survive
He burried his feelings and life was a mountain that he was determined to climb
Then he caught the scent of a sister in spirit who taught him to love her in time
Somehow or other she gathered together the cubs that he sired on the way
And they run by his side through the chill hungry night
And they sleep to his sweet serenade
There's a part of his heart up in heaven and a part that will always be wild
And all he can leave them is love and a reason
To run for the rest of their lifves lonesome coyotes survive
[ guitar ] There's a part of his heart...
**********
7.
ANTHEM '84
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '84 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »If you're looking for a fighter who'll defend you
And love you for your freedom I'm your man
And I ain't gonna leave you for the crazy things you're doin'
But don't ask me to lend a helping hand
You were such a pretty dream as I remember
You were young and strong and God was on your side
But the vision slowly faded like the wonder from your eyes
You traded your compassion for your pride
But I still believe in all that we believed in and I pray to God that you will in the end
You'll see the golden chances that you're wasting
And be the loving beauty that you can
[ guitar ] But I still believe in all...
**********
8.
HEART
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »My daddy was a charmer boys he had a lot of style
He was the shinin' best at everything he did
They said the he could lighten up a room with just a smile
And I was proud as hell to be his kid
It seemed like just as we were growing closer together
He was gone but it was long enough to shaw what I could be
And I sometimes feel his spirit fill my body like a song
And this is what my daddy sang to me
If they deal you down and dirty in a way you don't deserve
You'll feel better if you take it like a man
If you let 'em drive you crazy boy they'll shut your business down
Shake it off and get your licks in when you can
Cause the heart is all that matters in the end
[ guitar ] They say every song is sweeter when you sing it from the heart
I won't knock it cause I've tried it and it's true
I may never get to heaven but I've seen a lot of stars
And I'm here to bring the same advice to you
If they deal you down...
Cause the heart is all that matters in the end
The heart is all that matters in the end
**********
9.
THIS OLD ROAD
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »Look at that old photograph is it really you smilin' like a baby full of dreams
Smilin' ain't so easy now some are comin' true nothing's simple as it seems
But I guess you count your blessings with the problems that you're dealing with today
Like the changing of the seasons
Ain't you come a long way (ain't you come a long way)
Ain't you come a long way down this old road
Looking at a looking glass runnin' out of time on a face you used to know
Traces of a future lost in between the lines one more rainbow for the road
Thinking of the faces in your window that you passed along the way
Or the last thing you believed in
Ain't you come a long way...
[ guitar ] Say you tried to chase the sundown and you let it slip away
And the holy night is falling
Ain't you come a long way...
**********
10.
LOVE IS THE WAY
(Kris Kristofferson) « © '86 Jody Ray Publishing, BMI »Deep in the heart of the infinite darkness a tiny blue marble is spinning through space
Born in the splendor of God's holy vision and sliding away like a tear down his face
The closer you see the whole wide holy wonder
Of oceans and mountains and rivers and trees
And the strangest creation of many the human
A creature of laughter and freedom and dreams
[ guitar ] Now the warriors are waving their old rusty sabres
And preachers are preaching the gospel of hate
By their behavior they're determined to teach us
A lesson we're soon to be learning too late
Look closer my brother we're killing each other
And we'd better stop and get started today
Because life is the question and life is the answer
And God is the reason and love is the way
Life is the question...
Life is the question...
