Congrats Pope on being Man of the Year.

Congrats Pope on being the best fresh air in the Christian conversation since I was born Roman Catholic some 55 years ago.

I wanted to share a song about the down trodden, and on of my favorite from my youth was Kris Kristofferson's Pilgrim Chapter 33.  See him wasted on your sidewalks, but don't pity him.  Let's try to make a difference not from the top down, but maybe face to face.

Old fart candidate number 2

Ok... ever since Chip Taylor wow'd me by playing with Cari Rodriquez and then Kendal Carson, he has owned the Old Fart of the year. Last year Billy Joe Shaver snuck in because I had three or four people thru the year telling me about him. I'd say, Yep he's always been good. Well this year Chip should win it again with his helping Kendel with her new cd release, and releasing a great solo cd of Yonkers NY; but he has stiff competition from 73 year old Kris Kristofferson. I loved the songs I picked from his new cd, Close to the Bone. Here's a video taste:



And a review from RollingStone Truly the legend has put out new material that fits like a glove into the sound I loved growing up.

Here is how iTunes describes it:

The Pilgrim

Ok.. Johnny Cash knew Kris was one hell of a writer... this one I think is even better than Bobby McGee... my opinion though..

See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans,
Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile
Once he had a future full of money, love, and dreams,
Which he spent like they was goin' outa style
And he keeps right on a'changin' for the better or the worse,
Searchin' for a shrine he's never found
Never knowin' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse,
Or if the goin' up was worth the comin' down

CHORUS:
He's a poet, he's a picker
He's a prophet, he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned
He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,
Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.

He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars,
And he's traded in tomorrow for today
Runnin' from his devils, Lord, and reachin' for the stars,
And losin' all he's loved along the way
But if this world keeps right on turnin' for the better or the worse,
And all he ever gets is older and around
From the rockin' of the cradle to the rollin' of the hearse,
The goin' up was worth the comin' down

Pilgrim by Kris Kristofferson

With the help of Grooveshark.com, I'm rediscovering how much I loved Kris while growing up.

"Going up was worth the coming up".... as a fellow poet all I can say is Amen.



In keeping with the Johnny Cash show theme, this guy is a legend who has survived. The video's notes show that:

Kris Kristofferson performing "The Pilgrim" at the 2007 Ottawa Folk Festival. It was drizzling and near freezing and the man didn't once complain! In fact, he THANKED the fans for sticking around! What a class act!