Kris Kristofferson - Vietnam blues (1993)

Kris Kristofferson - His life and work (1993)
Kris talking about Vietnam Blues and his attitude to Vietnam

"It's up to anybody who does have the information to try to pass it on..."

This is an amazing and interesting documentary about Kris's life and his songwriting, performing and acting career, including interviews with Kris, Fred Foster, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dennis Hopper, Michael Cimino, Joan Baez, Alan Rudolp, Harry Dean Stanton, Jackson Browne and others. Kris sings a couple of unplugged songs. One of the most exciting moments to me: when he shows us around some important places in Nashville and comes to the place where he 'd live and where he stumbled down the stairs to meet the day ... Just amazing...

http://www.amazon.com/Kris-Kristofferson-His-Life-Work/dp/B0009WIE16
http://www.amazon.co.uk/His-Life-Work-Region-NTSC/dp/B0009WIE16

Kris about Vietnam Blues, " I'm not embarrassed about that song... but ...my own feelings about Vietnam turned 180 degrees. But I still felt, at the time, that all my friends were over there. And it wasn't their fault that they were over there. But I come to believe that it was a tremendous mistake for our government to be over there and that the things that we were doing were inhuman."

Vietnam Blues
(Kris was still in the army in Germany when he wrote that song in about 1965)

I was on leave at the time, just duckin' the fog,
nosin' around like a hungry dog
in that crazy place called Washington, D.C.

I saw a crowd of people on the White House lawn
all carrying signs about Vietnam,
so I went on over to see what I could see.

They was a strange-looking bunch.
But I never did understand civilians.

A fellow came to me with a list in his hand.
"We're gatherin' names to send a telegram of sympathy."
Then he handed me a pen.
I said, "I reckon this is goin' to the children and wives
of my friends over there who've given their lives."
He says, "Uh-uh, buddy, this is goin' to Ho Chi Minh."
I said, "Ho Chi who?"
He said, "Ho Chi Minh, People's Leader, North Vietnam."

Well, I wasn't real sure I was hearin' him right.
But I thought we'd better remove before we got in a fight
because my eyes were smartin', and my pulse started hitting a lick.

I thought about another telegram I'd read
tellin' my buddy's wife that her husband was dead.
It wasn't too long till I was feelin' downright sick.

Another held the sign that said 'We won't fight.'
And I thought to myself, 'You got that right.
You'd rather let a soldier die instead.'

I said, "You ever stop to think
that every man who died there in that far-off land
was dyin' so that you won't wake up dead?"

Of course, he looked at me like I was crazy,
just another warmonger.

Well, I left that place and went to town
and hit the first bar that I found to cool myself and pacify my brain.

See, I was on orders back to Vietnam, to a little place just north of Saigon,
and I had about an hour to catch my plane.

So, all I mean to say is, 'I don't like dyin' either.
But I care about the way I live.'

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kris Kristofferson
• songwriter
• music
• country
• country music
• original
• singer
• actor
• Vietnam Blues

[YankeeAirPirate]

I respect all that Kris has done academically, militarily, athletically, and musically. But I wish to hell he hadn't made that bullshit 180 pedal turn in attitudue about Vietnam. I'm a PH combat veteran of that War (1968-69) and contend that what most people know about Vietnam is pure Hollywood bullshit. About the only thing they ever got right about the Vietnam War was in reference to that "pile of little arms." THAT's who the NVA and VC were, Kris. WE were the good guys, asshole, and WE WON!

[biggestkkfan]

@YankeeAirPirate who is the asshole you're addressing to with your last sentence?? For Kris... I've just heard another interview of him, and he again said what he's always said about it: He will always have respect for those who were fighting in Vietnam, thinking, they would do the right thing, but not for the bastards who had sent them there... I agree with him...

[pblount3]

My 2nd and last husband was a Nam Vet and after falling in love with him in high school and trying to plead to run to Canada.. he volunteered but Never was the same...He gave me 2 great kids but 30yrs of heartache, drinking and cheating..I forgave him until95 left for the babies sake and will never love like I did him again, Vietnam killed my cousins and so many others but he may as well have died there. PIA

[biggestkkfan]

@pblount3 That's why I'm glad they did not let Kris go to Vietnam... he probably also wouldn't have come back the same man he had been before and maybe all these nice songs would never have been written by him.

[SpookMSgt]

@biggestkkfan "wouldn't have come back the same man he had been before"

And you somehow know that this would automatically be a BAD experience? I spent 1964-85 in the Army where virtually everyone I knew was a combat veteran yet didn't become a drooling drunk or druggie, and didn't spent their life whining about Vietnam. Kris became a drunk & druggie all by himself.

Some guys are weaklings who need to blame something for their failures in life. Others grow up & move on.

[biggestkkfan]

@SpookMSgt Yep, you seem to be the big hero, but what I learned about war - and it's not what I know but what I think about it... I think that any war is a bad experience to those who have or even want to go there... to see friends or other human beings - friend or enemy, it wouldn't matter to me - suffer and die can't be a nice experience... And, you are wrong, Kris wasn't in this war and he never blamed anybody else but himself and his fears of life and failure for his boozing.

[james140576]

Absolutely the GREATEST songwriter of all time!! No one else comes even close...

[SpookMSgt]

@biggestkkfan "That's why I'm glad they did not let Kris go to Vietnam"

As I recall there was no "they" involved in that decision. He got out as quick as he could, specifically to AVOID serving in Vietnam. Not illegal, but certainly not what one would call an admirable display of courage.

[ellienc]

Lost many friends in many different ways. Some did not come home, others did but died inside. This is a fantastic song Kris did, trying to explain both side to the horror of any war