ANNOUNCER: Song writer, poet, superstar, icon.

ROSANNE: When his songs got out and people saw who he was and what he was writing, it was like a depth charge for songwriters in Nashville.

EMMYLOU: No one really comes out of nowhere, but he almost did.

♪ ERIC: You talk about Kris Kristofferson, The number one thing I would say, 'cause I been doing this a while, "It's rare."

♪ DAVE: You gotta think more like Kristofferson, you know.

I mean, you gotta think real.

♪ And, I fumbled through my closet for my clothes ♪ DIERKS: What Kristofferson did with songwriting is really just flip the whole thing around and just show that you can be eloquent with your writing and have it be poetry for the common man.

MARTINA: There's a reason why they're classics and why they will last forever and ever.

And, it's just great songwriting.

JAMEY: But, he really challenges that part of your brain that wants to go after the purposeful, meaningful, life-changing songwriting.

JENNIFER: He is able to capture those parts of humanity in those daily things and make them sacred.

ERIC: Kris is somebody too that, you know, a lot of the stuff we know is the songwriting stuff, but he's always been a poet.

He's always been a lyricist.

ALISON: 'Cause he really changed it all.

He went everywhere.

He didn't leave anything out.

ROSANNE: And, even without the songs, you know, just who he is, how principled he is.

EMMYLOU: 'Cause really, I don't think there was ever anyone like him before.

HILLARY: Something just draws you in to his eyes and his face and he's got such a sexiness about him.

ALISON: There's nobody you can say oh somebody is like Kris.

There's only one.

HANK: He knows I'm not gonna come out here and do this for very many people, but I'm sure gonna do it for him.

DARIUS: You know, just to see those legends out there doing a Kris song, I think it's gonna be awesome.

REBA: I can't wait.

It's gonna be fun.

(audience cheering) ANNOUNCER: From Nashville, Tennessee, The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson.

(audience cheering) ["Help Me Make It Through The Night"] ♪ ♪ Take the ribbon from your hair ♪ ♪ Shake it loose and let it fall ♪ ♪ Layin' soft upon my skin ♪ ♪ Like the shadows on the wall ♪ ♪ Come and lay down by my side ♪ ♪ Till the early mornin' light ♪ ♪ All I'm takin' is your time ♪ ♪ Help me make it through the night ♪ ♪ I don't care what's right or wrong ♪ ♪ I won't try to understand ♪ ♪ Let the devil take tomorrow ♪ ♪ 'Cause tonight I need a friend ♪ ♪ Yesterday is dead and gone ♪ ♪ And tomorrow's out of sight ♪ ♪ Ain't it sad to be alone ♪ ♪ Help me make it through the night ♪ CHARLES: Play it soft boys.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I don't care what's right or wrong ♪ ♪ I won't try to understand ♪ ♪ Let the devil take tomorrow ♪ ♪ 'Cause tonight I need a friend ♪ ♪ Yesterday is dead and gone ♪ ♪ And tomorrow's out of sight ♪ ♪ Ain't it sad to be alone ♪ ♪ Help me make it through the night ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be alone ♪ ♪ Help me make it through the night ♪ (audience applauding) MARTINA: I sang a song called "Here Comes That Rainbow Again," which was actually written based on a scene from The Grapes of Wrath.

I love songs that I can kind of see and it's like a little movie, so it's just, once again, you know, evidence of Kris's amazing songwriting.

["Here Comes that Rainbow Again"] ♪ ♪ The scene was a small roadside cafe ♪ ♪ The waitress was sweepin' the floor ♪ ♪ Two truck drivers drinkin' their coffee ♪ ♪ And two okie kids by the door ♪ ♪ How much are them candies, they ask her ♪ ♪ How much have you got, she replied ♪ ♪ We've only a penny between us ♪ ♪ Them's two for a penny, she lied ♪ ♪ And the daylight grew heavy with thunder ♪ ♪ And the smell of the rain on the wind ♪ ♪ Ain't it just like a human ♪ ♪ Here comes that rainbow again ♪ ♪ ♪ One truck driver called to the waitress ♪ ♪ After the kids went outside ♪ ♪ Them candies ain't two for a penny ♪ ♪ So what's it to you, she replied ♪ ♪ In silence they finished their coffee ♪ ♪ Then got up and nodded goodbye ♪ ♪ She said, hey, you left too much money ♪ ♪ So what's it to you, they replied ♪ ♪ And the daylight was heavy with thunder ♪ ♪ And the smell of the rain on the wind ♪ ♪ Ain't it just like a human ♪ ♪ Here comes that rainbow again ♪ ♪ Ain't it just like a human ♪ ♪ Here comes that rainbow again ♪ ♪ (audience applauding) JAMEY: You're talking about Kris Kristofferson.

These are- these are songs that hit us in our spiritual center.

They're- they're songs that most of us grew up on.

ALISON: To just sit there and read these lyrics over and over and over, it's- it's just incredible what an amazing poet he is.

["For the Good Times"] ♪ ♪ Don't look so sad ♪ ♪ I know it's over ♪ ♪ But life goes on ♪ ♪ And this old world will keep on turning ♪ ♪ Let's just be glad ♪ ♪ We had some time ♪ ♪ To spend together ♪ ♪ There's no need ♪ ♪ To watch the bridges ♪ ♪ That we're burning ♪ ♪ Lay your head ♪ ♪ Upon my pillow ♪ ♪ Hold your warm and tender body ♪ ♪ Close to mine ♪ ♪ Hear the whisper of the raindrops ♪ ♪ Blowing soft against the window ♪ ♪ And, make believe you love me ♪ ♪ One more time ♪ ♪ For the good times ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ I'll get along ♪ ♪ You'll find another ♪ ♪ And, I'll be here ♪ ♪ It you should find ♪ ♪ You ever need me ♪ ♪ Don't say a word ♪ ♪ About tomorrow ♪ ♪ Or forever ♪ ♪ There'll be time enough for sadness ♪ ♪ When you leave me ♪ ♪ Lay your head ♪ ♪ Upon my pillow ♪ ♪ Hold your warm and tender body ♪ ♪ Close to mine ♪ ♪ Hear the whisper ♪ ♪ Of the raindrops ♪ ♪ Blowing soft against the window ♪ ♪ And, make believe you love me ♪ ♪ One more time ♪ ♪ For the good times ♪ ♪ For the good times ♪ (audience cheering) JAMEY: I think songwriters, all of us, are a collection of different influences.

And- and, being that we're kinda like a big blender, to get a great portion of Kris Kristofferson into your blender is... advisable.

RYAN: You know I'll always look to guys like him, you know, what are they doing?

What are they writing?

What are they saying?

DARIUS: You know, it's when, you know like when I was learning "Under the Gun," I would just think, man, just the words he was using and he paints such a, he paints such a vivid picture with so few words.

["Under the Gun"] ♪ Break a man ♪ ♪ Break a promise ♪ ♪ Break a heart ♪ ♪ Break a home ♪ ♪ Take a long ♪ ♪ Hard look at heaven ♪ ♪ Gone to hell ♪ ♪ Under the gun ♪ ♪ See the child ♪ ♪ Young and hungry ♪ ♪ Growing wild ♪ ♪ On the run ♪ ♪ And he'll die ♪ ♪ Reaching for freedom ♪ ♪ He was born ♪ ♪ Under the gun ♪ ♪ Swollen men ♪ ♪ Blind with power ♪ ♪ Break the rules ♪ ♪ One by one ♪ ♪ With their lies ♪ ♪ Raising the danger ♪ ♪ Of their games ♪ ♪ Under the gun ♪ Yeah!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ No more time ♪ ♪ No more chances ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no more wars ♪ ♪ No more wars ♪ ♪ In the end ♪ ♪ In the end ♪ ♪ Only the losers ♪ ♪ Hold their land ♪ ♪ Under the gun ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Hold the truth ♪ ♪ Hold the truth ♪ ♪ Like a candle ♪ ♪ Like a candle ♪ ♪ Let it shine ♪ ♪ Like the Sun ♪ ♪ Oh yeah yeah yeah ♪ ♪ On the love ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ That's left to believe in ♪ ♪ In a world ♪ ♪ In a world ♪ ♪ Under the gun ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah ♪ ♪ In a world ♪ ♪ In a world ♪ ♪ Under the gun ♪ Thank you!

♪ JENNIFER: Tonight, I got to sing a song called "Worth Fighting For" which is a beautiful story of a relationship and a couple who have gone on a road trip.

Except the road trip is not only an opportunity for the discussion of, but also a metaphor of, their relationship which he is very fantastic at the layers and the metaphor and the story within the story.

It's beautiful.

["Worth Fighting For"] ♪ ♪ Sunset on a highway to old Mexico ♪ ♪ Ruby like the wind upon my face ♪ ♪ Thunder from a storm on the horizon far away ♪ ♪ Ruby cut directly to the chase ♪ ♪ She said, anywhere you're going, baby ♪ ♪ You just gotta know I'm on your side ♪ ♪ Like I always was ♪ ♪ When you climb upon a stallion ♪ ♪ You are bound to let him take you for a ride ♪ ♪ All the way ♪ ♪ I'm still wild enough for you ♪ ♪ You know you ♪ ♪ You can count on me ♪ ♪ Baby, we ♪ ♪ Used to be ♪ ♪ Worth fighting for ♪ ♪ So tell me ♪ ♪ Are we ♪ ♪ Anything like anything we used to be ♪ ♪ Or tried to make believe before the fall ♪ ♪ Tell me how the hell you keep your spirit ♪ ♪ Strong enough to answer the call ♪ ♪ Ruby closed her eyes and faced the heavens ♪ ♪ She said, take me to the stars ♪ ♪ I was doin' 80 ♪ ♪ But I pushed her through the floor ♪ ♪ And watched her climb ♪ ♪ Outta sight, outta mind ♪ ♪ I'm still wild enough for you ♪ ♪ You know you ♪ ♪ You can count on me ♪ ♪ Baby, we ♪ ♪ Used to be ♪ ♪ Worth fighting for ♪ ♪ So tell me ♪ ♪ Are we, oh yeah ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ She said, anywhere you're going, baby ♪ ♪ You just gotta know I'm on your side ♪ ♪ Like I always was ♪ ♪ When you climb upon a stallion ♪ ♪ You are bound to let him take you ♪ ♪ For a ride ♪ ♪ All the way ♪ ♪ I'm singing ♪ ♪ I'm still wild enough for you ♪ ♪ You know you ♪ ♪ You can count on me ♪ ♪ Baby, we ♪ ♪ Used to be ♪ ♪ Worth fighting for ♪ ♪ So, tell me ♪ ♪ Are we, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I'm still wild enough for you ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ Kris Kristofferson.

(audience cheering) JENNIFER: Really, I think was a discovery for me, was to discover him as the songwriter through other artists.

DARIUS: But, I think the one that stands out is "Help Me Make It Through The Night."

The lyrics are great, and there's melody.

And, he delivers it, yeah, that's the song for me.

JACK: It's not just those songs that everybody knows.

Every single one of 'em is just as tight, just as big of a punch.

There are no holes in his music because they come from a place that's pure.

HANK: "If You Don't Like Hank Williams, Kiss My Ass" which had been a real big song in my career that Kris wrote.

And, of course, I changed a few words here and there.

But that's why I'm here.

["If You Don't Like Hank Williams (Kiss My Ass)"] ♪ Well, I like Lynyrd Skynyrd ♪ ♪ I like Johnny Cash ♪ ♪ I think Waylon Jennings ♪ ♪ Is a table thumping smash ♪ ♪ Playing with Marshall Tucker ♪ ♪ Good as smoking grass ♪ ♪ But if you don't like Hank Williams ♪ ♪ Honey, you can kiss my ass ♪ ♪ 'Cause I think what he done was well worth doin' ♪ ♪ And he sure did it the best way that you can ♪ ♪ You're the only one that you are screwin' ♪ ♪ When you put down what you don't understand ♪ ♪ I love Roger Miller ♪ ♪ Merle Haggard and George Jones ♪ ♪ Shotgun Willie Nelson ♪ ♪ And the rockin' Rolling Stones ♪ ♪ Anything the Eagles do ♪ ♪ And, I kinda like Linda Rondstadt ♪ ♪ But if you don't like Hank Williams ♪ ♪ Well you can kiss our ass ♪ ♪ Well I think what they done ♪ ♪ Is well worth doin' ♪ ♪ And he sure did it the best way that you can ♪ ♪ You're the only one that you are screwin' ♪ ♪ When you put down what you don't understand ♪ ♪ I ain't sayin' that he was ♪ ♪ The best one or the last ♪ ♪ But if you don't like Hank Williams ♪ ♪ Well, you can kiss my ass ♪ ♪ No, I ain't sayin' ♪ ♪ That he was the best one or the last ♪ ♪ But, if you don't like Hank Williams ♪ ♪ You can kiss Kris and Bocephus' ass ♪ (audience cheering) ROSANNE: He was a standard.

I wanted to be that good as a songwriter, you know.

You look at a song like "Sunday Morning Coming Down" or "Loving Him Was Easier," "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends" - that body of work will last forever, forever.

He's one of the great songwriters of the 20th century.

["Loving Him Was Easier"] ♪ ♪ I have seen the morning burning golden ♪ ♪ On the mountain in the skies ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Aching with the feeling of the freedom ♪ ♪ Of an eagle when she flies ♪ ♪ ♪ Turning on the world, the way you smiled ♪ ♪ On my soul as I lay dying ♪ ♪ Healing as the colors in the sunshine ♪ ♪ And the shadows of his eyes ♪ ♪ ♪ Waking in the morning to the feeling ♪ ♪ Of his fingers on my skin ♪ ♪ ♪ Wiping out the traces of the people ♪ ♪ And the places that I've been ♪ ♪ ♪ Teaching me that yesterday ♪ ♪ Was something that I never thought of trying ♪ ♪ Talking of tomorrow and the money, love, and time ♪ ♪ We had to spend ♪ ♪ ♪ Loving him was easier than ♪ ♪ Anything I'll ever do again ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Coming close together ♪ ♪ With a feeling that I've never known before ♪ ♪ In my time ♪ ♪ He ain't ashamed to be a man ♪ ♪ Or afraid to be a friend ♪ ♪ ♪ And, I don't know the answer ♪ ♪ To the easy way he opens every door ♪ ♪ In my mind ♪ ♪ But dreaming was as easy as believing ♪ ♪ It was never gonna end ♪ ♪ ♪ And, loving him was easier ♪ ♪ Than anything I'll ever do again ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh loving him was easier ♪ ♪ Than anything I'll ever do again ♪ ♪ (audience applauding) ERIC: I'm doing "To Beat the Devil."

It's a song that not only saved my career, but it probably saved my life.

I got told no like a lot of people do in Nashville a lot of times.

But, there was one particular time that I was- when I got told no and got told to go home, I was gonna do it.

I was gonna go home, I was gonna pack.

I was gonna go back to North Carolina.

I was done.

And, I had the Austin Sessions, Kris Kristofferson.

And the song that came on was "To Beat the Devil" which is about that.

It's about a guy who gets told no a lot.

And, it talks about one more time and not listening to that and persevering through that.

So, because of that song, I stayed in town.

And the next day I got an offer for a composing deal at Sony.

So, that song kept me in town, it kept me here.

So, it's probably not the most, it's probably not the song that's the most popular, you know, of stuff he's done, but to me it's the best writing I've ever heard and it's personal for me because it saved my life.

I'm here because of that man right there.

["To Beat the Devil"] (audience cheering) ♪ It was wintertime in Nashville down on Music City Row.

And I was looking for a place to get myself out of the cold.

To warm the frozen feeling that was eating at my soul, keep the chilly wind off my guitar.

My thirsty wanted whiskey but my hunger needed beans.

It had been a month of paydays since I'd heard that eagle scream.

So with a stomach full of empty and a pocket full of dreams, I left my pride and stepped inside a bar.

Actually I guess you could call it a tavern.

Cigarette smoke to the ceiling and sawdust on the floor, friendly shadows.

I saw that there was just one old man sitting at the bar.

And in the mirror, I could see him checking out me and my guitar.

And he turned and said, "Come up here, boy, and show us who you are."

I said, I'm dry, and he bought me a beer.

He nodded at my guitar and said, "It's a tough life, ain't it?"

I just looked at him.

He said, "You ain't making any money, are you boy?"

I said, "Mister, you been reading my mail."

And, he just smiled and said, "Let me see that guitar.

I got something you ought to hear."

And he laid it on me.

♪ If you waste your time talking to ♪ ♪ The people that you don't listen to ♪ ♪ The things that you are saying ♪ ♪ Who do you think's gonna hear ♪ ♪ And if you should die explaining how ♪ ♪ The things that they complain about ♪ ♪ Are things they could be changing ♪ ♪ Who do you think's gonna care ♪ ♪ There were other lonely singers ♪ ♪ In a world turned deaf and blind ♪ ♪ Who were crucified by what they had to show ♪ ♪ And their voices have been scattered by ♪ ♪ The swirling winds of time ♪ ♪ 'Cause the truth remains that no one wants to know ♪ ♪ Well the old man was a stranger but I'd heard his song before back before failure had me locked out of both sides of the door.

When no one stood behind me but my shadow on the floor and lonesome was more than a state of mind.

You see the devil, he haunts a hungry man.

If you don't wanna join him, you gotta beat him.

I ain't saying I beat the devil, but I did drink his beer for nothing.

(audience cheering) And, I stole that son of a bitch's song.

(audience cheering) ♪ And you can still hear me singing to ♪ ♪ The people that you don't listen to ♪ ♪ The things that I am saying ♪ ♪ Praying someone's gonna hear ♪ ♪ And I guess I'll die explaining how ♪ ♪ The things that they complain about ♪ ♪ Are things they could be changing ♪ ♪ Hoping someone's gonna care ♪ ♪ Well, I was born a lonely singer ♪ ♪ And I'm bound to die the same ♪ ♪ But I've gotta feed the hunger in my soul ♪ ♪ And if I never have a nickel ♪ ♪ I won't ever die ashamed ♪ ♪ 'Cause I don't believe that no one wants to know ♪ ♪ Yeah, I don't believe that no one wants to know ♪ (audience cheering) DIERKS: When I discovered Kris, I was probably, you know, mid- mid-20s and we just dove into all his heavier songs.

His way with words just spoke to- to everybody in a way that hadn't been spoken to before, but still felt very natural.

Stuff that he did, at the time his stuff was coming out of Nashville, was much more formulated and he was coming up with stuff that just was kinda off the grid.

And, I think it really showed you as a songwriter that you can break the mold and kinda do things different and you don't have to kinda fit- fit that same puzzle that everyone else was- was kinda working out of.

["From the Bottle to the Bottom"] ♪ ♪ You wonder if I'm happy now ♪ ♪ That's good as any joke I've heard ♪ ♪ It seems since I seen you last ♪ ♪ I done forgot the meaning of the word ♪ ♪ If happiness is empty rooms ♪ ♪ And drinkin' in the afternoon ♪ ♪ Well I guess I'm happy as a clam ♪ ♪ But if it's got a thing to do ♪ ♪ With smilin' or forgettin' you ♪ ♪ Well I don't guess that I could say I am ♪ ♪ Did you ever see a down and outer waking up alone ♪ ♪ Without a blanket on to keep him from the dew ♪ ♪ When the water from the weeds ♪ ♪ Has soaked the papers ♪ ♪ He's been puttin' in his shoes ♪ ♪ To keep the ground from comin' through ♪ ♪ And his future feels as empty ♪ ♪ As the pockets in his pants ♪ ♪ Because he's never seen a single dream come true ♪ ♪ That's the way that I've been feelin' ♪ ♪ Since the day I started falling ♪ ♪ From the bottle to the bottom stool by stool ♪ ♪ Learnin' hard to live with losin' you ♪ ♪ ♪ You wonder if I'm better off ♪ ♪ With the freedom now to do the things I choose ♪ ♪ Well all my time's my own ♪ ♪ And, I've got nothin' left ♪ ♪ But sleepin' time to lose ♪ ♪ There's no one here to carry on ♪ ♪ If I stay out the whole night long ♪ ♪ And give a cankerous damn if I don't call ♪ ♪ I'm livin' like I wanted to ♪ ♪ And doin' things I wanna do ♪ ♪ And nothin' means a thing to me at all ♪ ♪ Did you ever see a down and outer waking up alone ♪ ♪ Without a blanket on to keep him from the dew ♪ ♪ When the water from the weeds ♪ ♪ Has soaked the papers ♪ ♪ He'd been puttin' in his shoes ♪ ♪ To keep the ground from comin' through ♪ ♪ And his future feels as empty ♪ ♪ As the pockets in his pants ♪ ♪ Because he's never seen a single dream come true ♪ ♪ That's the way that I've been feelin' ♪ ♪ Since the day I started falling ♪ ♪ From the bottle to the bottom stool by stool ♪ ♪ Learnin' hard to live with losin' you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) Thank you folks, the Travelin' McCourys.

Thank you Kris, thank you Lisa.

(audience cheering) EMMYLOU: I was delighted when they asked me to do "The Pilgrim."

But, then I found, I got to rehearsal and found out that I was actually gonna sing it with Kris.

And- and, without any planning, we just sort of created a little kind of duet.

I- I just hope that he is feeling the respect, feeling the gratitude that we're just so glad that we lived in a time when Kris Kristofferson lived, you know?

And, we got to see him perform and- and we got to hear those songs when they were first written and recorded 'cause they will be around for the ages, definitely.

["The Pilgrim, Chapter 33"] ♪ 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' out o' 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 blessing or a curse ♪ ♪ Or if the goin' up was worth the comin' down ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ Traded in tomorrow for today ♪ ♪ Runnin' from his devils Lord ♪ ♪ And reachin' for the stars ♪ ♪ Losin' all he 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 ♪ ♪ Goin' up was worth the comin' down ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ There's a lot of wrong directions ♪ ♪ On that lonesome way back home ♪ (audience cheering) REBA: I'm doing "Bobby McGee."

It's been a favorite of mine for many, many years.

That's the one I wanted to sing tonight because of the history I have with the song, but also it's just a- a gypsy song.

And, I- I just have always really thought myself as a gypsy.

So, it really did tag into well- well with me.

I love that song.

["Me and Bobby McGee"] ♪ ♪ ♪ Busted flat in Baton Rouge ♪ ♪ Headed for the train ♪ ♪ Feelin' near as faded as my jeans ♪ ♪ Bobby flagged a diesel down ♪ ♪ Just before it rained ♪ ♪ Took us all the way to New Orleans ♪ ♪ I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna ♪ ♪ I was blowin' sad while Bobby sang the blues ♪ ♪ Oh but them windshield wipers slappin' time ♪ ♪ And Bobby clappin' hands ♪ ♪ We finally sang every song that driver knew ♪ ♪ Freedom's just another word ♪ ♪ For nothin' left to lose ♪ ♪ Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free ♪ ♪ Feelin' good was easy, Lord ♪ ♪ When Bobby sang the blues ♪ ♪ Feelin' good was good enough for me ♪ Ha ha ha!

♪ Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, from the coal mines of Kentucky ♪ ♪ To the California sun ♪ ♪ Bobby shared the secrets of my soul ♪ ♪ Standing right beside me, Lord ♪ ♪ Through everything I done ♪ ♪ Every night he kept me from the cold ♪ ♪ Oh but somewhere near Salinas, Lord ♪ ♪ I let him slip away ♪ ♪ Searchin' for a home, and I hope he'll find it ♪ ♪ And, I'd trade all of my tomorrows ♪ ♪ For a single yesterday ♪ ♪ Holdin' Bobby's body close to mine ♪ ♪ Freedom's just another word ♪ ♪ For nothin' left to lose ♪ ♪ Nothin', ain't worth nothin' but it's free ♪ ♪ Oh feelin' good was easy, Lord ♪ ♪ When my Bobby sang the blues ♪ ♪ Buddy that was good was good enough for me ♪ ♪ Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee ♪ Oh yeah, sing it with me.

♪ Na na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Na na na na me and my Bobby McGee ♪ ♪ Come on, Kris.

♪ ♪ Na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na me and Bobby McGee ♪ One more time!

♪ Na na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Na na na me and Bobby McGee ♪ ♪ Na na na na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ Na na na me and Bobby McGee ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) ERIC: You know, "Sunday Morning Coming Down," I still believe that "Beat The Devil" is the best pound-for- pound songwriting I've ever heard.

But, "Sunday Morning Coming Down," is- it's close to the greatest songs of all ti- you know, people rank 'em all the time, the best songs of all time.

That and- that and "Beat The Devil," that's it.

I mean, you can put one here and you can put one here.

You can do this.

And, the rest of us are probably never gonna get there.

["Sunday Morning Coming Down"] ♪ ♪ Well I woke up Sunday morning ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ With no way to hold my head that it didn't hurt ♪ ♪ ♪ And the beer I had for breakfast ♪ ♪ Wasn't bad ♪ ♪ So I had one more for dessert ♪ ♪ ♪ And I fumbled through my closet for my clothes ♪ ♪ Found my cleanest dirty shirt ♪ ♪ ♪ And I shaved my face and combed my hair ♪ ♪ Stumbled down the stairs to meet the day ♪ ♪ ♪ Well I smoked my brain the night before ♪ ♪ With cigarettes and songs that I've been pickin' ♪ ♪ ♪ But I lit my first ♪ ♪ And watched a small kid ♪ ♪ Cussin' at a can that he'd been kickin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Then I crossed the empty street ♪ ♪ Caught the Sunday smell of someone fryin' chicken ♪ ♪ ♪ And it took me back to something ♪ ♪ That I'd lost somehow somewhere along the way ♪ ♪ On the Sunday morning sidewalk ♪ ♪ Wishing Lord that I was stoned ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's something in a Sunday ♪ ♪ ♪ Makes a body feel alone ♪ ♪ And there's nothing short of dying ♪ ♪ Half as lonesome as the sound ♪ ♪ On the sleeping city sidewalk ♪ ♪ Sunday morning coming down ♪ ♪ ♪ In the park I saw a daddy ♪ ♪ With a laughing little girl who he was swingin' ♪ ♪ ♪ And I stopped beside the Sunday school ♪ ♪ Listened to the song that they was singin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Then I headed back for home ♪ ♪ Somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing ♪ ♪ ♪ And it echoed thru the canyons ♪ ♪ Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday ♪ ♪ On the Sunday morning sidewalk ♪ ♪ Wishing Lord that I was stoned ♪ ♪ There's something in a Sunday ♪ ♪ Makes a body feel alone ♪ ♪ And there's nothing short of dying ♪ ♪ Half as lonesome as the sound ♪ ♪ On the sleeping city sidewalk ♪ ♪ Sunday morning coming down ♪ ♪ (audience applauding) ["Why Me"] ♪ ♪ ♪ Why me Lord ♪ ♪ What have I ever done ♪ ♪ To deserve even one ♪ ♪ Of the pleasures I've known ♪ ♪ Tell me Lord ♪ ♪ What did I ever do ♪ ♪ That was worth loving you ♪ ♪ Or the kindness you've shown ♪ ♪ Lord help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I've wasted it ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I know what I am ♪ ♪ Now that I know ♪ ♪ That I've needed you ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ My soul's in your hands ♪ ♪ Try me Lord ♪ ♪ If you think there's a way ♪ ♪ I can try to repay ♪ ♪ All I've taken from you ♪ ♪ Maybe Lord ♪ ♪ I can show someone else ♪ ♪ What I've been through myself ♪ ♪ On my way back to you ♪ ♪ Lord help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I've wasted it ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I know what I am ♪ ♪ Now that I know ♪ ♪ That I've needed you ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ My soul's in your hands ♪ ♪ Lord help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I've wasted it ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I know what I am ♪ ♪ Now that I know ♪ ♪ That I needed you ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ My soul's in your hands ♪ ♪ Jesus, my soul's in your hands ♪ (applause) Thank you.

(applause) ♪ Lord help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I've wasted it ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ I know what I am ♪ ♪ Now, that I know ♪ ♪ That I needed you ♪ ♪ So help me, Jesus ♪ ♪ My soul's in your hands ♪ ♪ (applause)