Despite his multifarious talents, Kristofferson sees himself mainly as a musician, and more specifically as a songwriter
Kris Kristofferson Whether you know him as the writer of "Me and Bobby McGee," the male lead in the film “A Star is Born," or as a member of the country supergroup The Highwayman, Kris Kristofferson is a certified Renaissance man–maybe one of the last.
But despite his multifarious talents, Kristofferson sees himself mainly as a musician, and more specifically, as a songwriter. He brings his truckload of songs, old and new, to the Calvin Theatre in Northampton on Sunday. Kristofferson recently talked about his career, his life and his new album during a telephone interview from his Hawaii home.
Your new album "Feeling Mortal," has both some new compositions as well as older, previously unrecorded songs. Why did you end up including that sort of mix and how did you end up choosing the older songs?
I felt this album was kind of a scrapbook. I guess all my albums have been that way–about what I'm going through at the time–and for some reason there was a couple of old ones on there that I identify with now. I don't know why. (Laughs.)
The title track, "Feeling Mortal," sounds like it might be a song of regret and dreading death, but on listening to it, it seems more like a song of contentment and looking back fondly. Is that true?
Well, I was thinking about how everyone of us is going to die, but we never think about it. (Laughs.) And I am grateful to find out that it's not depressing. I feel grateful for the really wonderful ride I've had. When I think of all the people who were my heroes who became my close friends, it's kind of amazing. From Muhammad Ali to Johnny Cash, and Willie, (Nelson) who is still here, I can't help but feel grateful for being blessed with all that.
Speaking of some of those guys, what was it like being with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings, in The Highwaymen?
It was like: pinch myself. I always wondered if I were dreaming the whole thing. It was a wonderful experience. I wish it had been longer, We only had several years together. And they were all so funny.
You were Rhodes Scholar, a boxer, a rugby player; you attended Oxford, you were even an Army captain and helicopter pilot. How do you think your education and diverse background informed your art?
Well, I have to think that everything you live contributes to your creative work. Looking back, I feel sort of amazed that everything I wanted to do, I got to do, whether I was built for it or not. (Laughs.) I was never much bigger than 160 pounds and I wasn't a fast runner, but I got to box and play football, and that was all stuff that I loved. But looking back on it, the first thing that I loved to do was make up songs. While I was idolizing Rocky Graziano and Joe Louis, I was starting to write then, too.
And after college, you left a military career, after achieving the rank of captain, to make that leap into songwriting at some point, didn't you?
Yeah, well the military, I was never planning to do that forever. My father was in it and my brother, and everything, and I did five years, but I was never built to be in uniform. (Laughs.)
You mention being grateful.What are the things that you're most grateful for?
Well, I'm grateful for my family. I've got eight kids and were all close. And I've been with the woman I love for over 30 years now. And she takes good care of me too.
Since you have said you're pretty content, a sentiment that shows up in some of the new songs, and you seem pretty happy living out in Hawaii, what's your motivation to continue to write songs and perform on the road?
Well, ever since I've been performing and have been successful at making a living at my music, I just have felt that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. And I'm older now, and the songs come much slower now but I still enjoy going out and performing them. The audiences have been good. But I really have a hard time wondering why anyone would buy a ticket to hear me sing. I'm no Ray Charles. (Laughs.)