Kris Kristofferson - To beat the devil (Breakthrough, 1989)

Great song, great story, REAL POETRY.
KRIS, KEEP YOUR SPIRIT!
Read more about the performance in this playlist
• Breakthrough (1989) - ...
Great performance, available on DVD
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The song is on Kris' first album "Kristofferson" (1970)
Kris wrote it about Johnny Cash.
He had met Johnny in a hall at the studio in Nashville. Johnny was in really bad shape and though not old of age he was very close to death... Kris looked into Johnny's face and saw that he was dying and he wondered why...
and wrote this song - Johnny is the old man in the bar and Kris is the songwriter that comes in...
This is his intro to the song on his album:
"A couple of years back I'd come across a great and wasted friend of mine
at the recording studio, and while he was reciting some poetry to me
that he'd written I saw that he was about a step away from dying,
and I couldn't help to wonder why.
And the lines of this song occurred to me,
I'm happy to say he is no longer wasted and he is guided by a good woman.
And I'd like to dedicate this to John and June, who help to show me
how to beat the devil."
TO BEAT THE DEVIL
Es war Winter in Nashville, unten im Musikviertel.
Und ich suchte einen Ort, der Kälte zu entkommen,
das gefrorene Gefühl zu erwärmen, das an meiner Seele fraß,
und den scharfen Wind von meiner Gitarre abzuhalten.
Mein Durst wollte Whiskey, mein Hunger brauchte Bohnen.
Aber es war schon einen Monat von Zahltagen her,
seit ich diesen Adler schreien gehört hatte.
So ließ ich meinen Stolz und ging - mit einem Magen voller Leere
und der Tasche voller Träume - in eine Bar hinein
(ich schätze, ihr würdet es eine Kneipe nennen),
Zigarettenrauch an der Decke und Sägemehl auf dem Fußboden,
freundliche Schatten.
Ich sah, dass da nur ein alter Mann an der Theke saß,
und im Spiegel konnte ich sehen, wie er mich und meine Gitarre prüfte.
Er drehte sich zu mir um und sagte,
„Komm her, Junge, und zeig uns was du bist!"
Ich sagte, "Ich bin trocken", und er kaufte mir ein Bier.
Er nickte zu meiner Gitarre und sagte, "Ist ein hartes Leben, stimmt's?"
Ich schaute ihn nur an, und er sagte, "Du machst kein Geld damit, oder?"
Ich sagte, "du liest wohl meine Post?"
Er lächelte nur, "Lass mich diese Gitarre sehen;
ich habe da etwas, das du hören solltest."
Und dann brachte er es auf den Punkt:
„Wenn du deine Zeit verschwendest, um mit Leuten zu sprechen,
die dem nicht zuhören, was du erzählst - wer, denkst du, wird es denn hören?
Und solltest du sterben beim Erklären,
wie sie die Dinge, über die sie sich beschweren,
ändern könnten- wen, denkst du, wird es kümmern?
Es gab schon andere einsame Sänger in einer Welt,
die taub und blind geworden ist,
die sie verrissen haben für das, was sie versucht hatten zu zeigen.
Und ihre Stimmen wurden zerstreut von den wirbelnden Winden der Zeit,
weil die Wahrheit bleibt, dass es niemand wissen will!"
Gut, der alte Mann war ein Fremder,
aber ich hatte seinen Song zuvor gehört,
zu der Zeit, als der Misserfolg mich
auf der falschen Seite der Tür ausgesperrt hatte;
als niemand hinter mir stand außer mein Schatten auf dem Boden
und Einsamkeit mehr als ein Gemütszustand war.
Du siehst, der Teufel jagt einen hungrigen Mann;
wenn du dich nicht mit ihm verbünden willst, musst du ihn besiegen.
Ich sag nicht, dass ich den Teufel besiegt habe,
aber ich trank sein Bier umsonst
Und dann stahl ich sein Lied!
Und ihr könnt mich immer noch singen hören
zu den Leuten, die dem, was ich sage, nicht zuhören,
betend, dass doch jemand hören wird.
Und ich schätze, ich werde sterben beim Erklären, wie sie die Dinge,
über die sie sich beschweren, ändern könnten,
und hoffe dabei, dass es jemanden kümmert.
Ich wurde als einsamer Sänger geboren
und ich wird' wohl als solcher sterben
aber ich muss den Hunger in meiner Seele stillen.
Und falls ich nie ein Fünfcentstück habe,
werde ich nicht vor Scham sterben
weil ich nicht glaube, dass niemand es wissen will!

[@montebrown9528]

Only one Highway Man left. 😢 Hang in there Willie. I'm glad we have a lot of great music to remember them by. RIP

[@j.dunlop8295]

Life long ambition, beating the devil's in our lives, never ending, heard Kris 54 yrs ago, still trying..

[@rogerraymondunplugged]

I’m finding myself listening to Kris more than any other artists. His lyrics are so real, they send shivers of emotions through my soul. The best therapy that I have ever experienced.

[@avppr3451]

Haha, Kris and MGLA, worlds apart but both Lyric Poetry, both therapeutic LOL

[@xine9997]

Me, too. Feeling like an addict, needing a daily fix.

[@richardstones6445]

"Well that old man was a stranger, but I'd heard his song before."

[@steelcity4581]

Kris truly had a beautiful mind. Was blessed to see him live in 1992

[@crazydave069]

This song was the first that came to mind when I heard he had passed away. So long, Kris, and thank you for so many great songs.

[@manujoe72]

RIP Kris. Your kind will never be seen again. Thank you for the music and the joy it brought to many millions. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@j.dunlop8295]

My family and I found Kris, at a bistro in Maryland on the water, then bought his albam in 1972, playing it all summer long, ⌚🩵

[@tonyhill1448]

I think it was about 1970 that I first heard Kris and been a fan ever since

[@MrTrker1]

Who would have thought Willie would out live all the rest of them …. one sure way to loose your friends is to out live em !!!! RIP Kris

[@KDSima]

My mother was a huge Kristofferson fan. Listened to his records, constantly. I always loved this song.

[@danbuter]

RIP Kris. You were an amazing man.

[@kwren-od3si]

Nothing but the best from a Rhodes scholar who studied William Blake.. Born with a storyteller's soul...listen to Whiskey Whiskey...

[@cristinabumbac151]

Again one very good song...and he sounds like Johnny Cash, his best friend....

[@TheGran8]

What a blessing Kris had to feed the hunger in his soul. He has given so much pleasure to millions of people. Thank you for posting.

[@biggestkkfan1506]

Thanks for commenting 😊

[@erickgow2859]

RIP Kris thanks for the music

[@gregtaylor8327]

Simply the best!

[@karenhall-gist6966]

I've loved Kris for over 40 years and was lucky enough to meet him in Kansas City , Mo in 1973-74 and he bought me a drink in a bar and I got to talk to him and learned he was a great, friendly person as well as the great songwriter and musician I'd just seen at the KC concert!

[@helenheeney2284]

You were soooooo lucky to meet him

[@nicholasjanke3476]

I knew the Kristoffersons very very casually. I first met Kris Kristoferrson late one night in New Zealand. Very humble, very intelligent, man. And I LOVED Heaven's Gate, stuff the critics!

[@lindaoak]

God, I love this guy.

[@bravestar725]

kris is a genious. he wrote the songs every1 wanted to sing. country music was never the same after kris. to this day artists are influenced. he is the bob dylan of country music

[@VJPHaitiLady]

Marshall Boehm Absolutely! You got it right!

[@jamesiewilson4650]

+Marshall Boehm yeh kris + a the Guys changed nashvlle forever,Renigades one + all!!!!!!

[@FoxPopvli]

+Marshall Boehm bob dylan of country music! The perfect definition! ;D you've read my mind!

[@candytaylor4251]

right on

[@tyalsvarrr]

I suggest you to listen to Colter Wall. Especially his “Codeine Dream” song.

[@Code9]

Just saw Kris last night at the Paramount in Seattle. Wow. As great ever. The man is a genius with lyrics. As if most of us didn't already know that. LOL

[@patriciamccarter7081]

Code 9 I’m sooooo looking forward to seeing him in EDI in June🤗🤗

[@alanmccarthy2285]

*Kristoffersons still the king* 🔝

[@fattymagee7937]

Kristofferson wrote my life

[@linhthaiduong7273]

The chorus to this song is so fucking catchy. Damn impossible to get out of your head.

[@dianejarmon1990]

Love this man and his music

[@angel83119]

One of my Favorite KK songs❤

[@Besta_Lisa]

I'm so glad he kept singing . . . . I listened!!!!

[@dougshankle7946]

Lyrical genius.

[@unkabudd1114]

This was the songwriter I wanted to be.

[@objectivealchemy]

Miss You Already Lonely Singer.... 💔

[@rogerraymondunplugged]

The one, actually three, things I regret in my musical life. That’s not to have seen Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

[@ianngio]

First heard this song when I was nine years old we used to travel 220 miles to peterbourgh England to visit my grandparents, they were really special times for me my brother mum and other grandmother how lived with us at the time this went on till 2008 or so, we used to make our journey in a white BMW e28 m535i I still have the car today and this song was always on the tape along with a few others "then I stole his fu@&ing song then please post on youtube Thanks again x

[@debbieveasey4224]

Love this one

[@petersmith7360]

One of my favourite songs, people, you gotta love them, not

[@MrMakaveli76]

stunning lyrics, fantastic song

[@tomswinburn1778]

"my thirsty wanted whiskey my hungry needed beans" "my stomach full of empty my pockets full of dreams" If that ain't great writing, great writing doesn't exist.

[@ianngio]

Tom Swinburn 👌

[@Kah0ona]

Exactly my thoughts Tom.

[@rolandakor861]

Genius.

[@deathkampdrone]

the perfect song.

[@JG-ds6qs]

Rest in Peace Kris. 😢

[@brianballard1153]

Greatness

[@janhensley3617]

Legend 💔

[@berndhartnack3653]

I love almost love all Kris Kristofferson Songs

[@luckydubeinrc5165]

Legend!

[@Kine1]

Love it Tina :-) I think people is not listening to the things that we are sying,lol, that they have to go here to like or dislike to give you credit,loved this on.......

[@francoisbritz77]

What a legend.

[@TheAmosTree]

RIP Legend

[@angelinavieiradasilva9301]

Lindo....prbns....prbns...paz e luz.

[@Gamira00]

Such a great song. Love it, thx for postin it

[@1337korv]

he sings beautifully

[@sixtiesmusiconly]

I used to play Waylon's version on AFRS in 1973 on the island of Deigo Garcia.

[@nirmalasgabriel3050]

Why do they say he cld not sing? He is fabulous

[@rogerraymondunplugged]

I’ve listened to almost all of his early performances. There’s probably some truth about his singing then, but his voice has definitely matured and gained gravitas over the years. I’ve been learning his songs and also to play the guitar these past months. I’m dreadful and I won’t ever make the top ten, but it comes from my soul and I don’t really care what people think. Those who can’t sing, criticise. So, don’t fret. He is fabulous. My favourite is Sunday Morning, Coming Down. Enjoy. God bless.

[@niky7348]

Leggenda

[@morphinlounge101]

This is America, I love that part of America.

[@alanmccarthy2285]

*i kicked habits and i quit to drink but some old habits are hard to broke like love to Kristofferson* 'n if that ain't L💝VE i'll kiss your xxx *K, PITTSBURGH LOVES U*

[@dreamwell2020]

He makes it sound easy.

[@FrankMcfadden-ji8vr]

The master

[@johnborylo5060]

My small attempt to spread love and truth is to be found on the playlist called "John borylo what I believe" on KZbin. I felt I needed to do something and I have a very diverse comprehension of music. My prayers are with the whole world now at this time of catastrophe.

[@DougHenderson-of9eq]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@biggestkkfan1506]

@Kine1 No, they seem not, but thanks Kine, at least you did... and I think some others also, have 8 comments here in the channel today :-)

[@kriskisstofferson2848]

This song saved Eric Churches

[@danmccaffrey2157]

I love that story

[@rosco272002]

Country rules

[@biggestkkfan1506]

Me too...

[@warrenwintrode3698]

I aint saying I beat the Devil, but I drank his beer for nothing, and I stole his song.

[@johnbrown1851]

Still getting a laugh outta me!

[@yakabayngu1126]

Travel well champion.

[@357bullfrog9]

I'd love to meet him. Him and me could talk

[@wyominglost]

3 people didn't beat the Devil.

[@CurtisKnudson]

Todd Snider made this song his.

[@lightbox617]

Don't forget that he graduated from Princeton.

[@SandyCarlton]

no he didnt

[@solace2023]

OXFORD.

[@moondog3894]

Hey hey. Pick me. I know what to find and lean to know love.