06 Oct ME AND BOBBY McGEE
Kris Kristofferson has left the building. Many remember only his film acting career, but on his passport, he’s listed as “Writer.” Kristofferson penned Country and Western hits, many recorded by other artists. But Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night, and Sunday Morning Coming Down would never have become mega hits had Kristofferson not found his unique voice. His greatest foe was conditioning, informed by education.
As a young man, Kristofferson was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, where he also graduated in English Literature. His first publisher said that Kristofferson’s songs were too long and his grammar too perfect. “He had to learn the way people talk,” she said. Apart from adding “ain’t” and “nothin’” Kristofferson developed a languid expressiveness and keen melodic sensibility which came from spending time with other songwriters.
We often get derailed by expectations. The idea of being perfect, like Kristofferson’s grammar, can influence how we show up and speak. But to ignore our audiences and the current style — in both language and behavior is to miss the boat. If what you’re delivering is important, it’s critical to decide how it will be presented.
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