Watch Kris Kristofferson performs on stage a song that he wrote entitled “Good Morning John” in response to his good friend Johnny Cash’s ongoing struggle with addiction. At a party celebrating Cash’s sobriety, friends were invited to write a letter, but Kristofferson chose to write a song instead.
“Everyone was supposed to say something inspirational, so I wrote a song,” Kristofferson tells Billboard. “I tried to record this once before with Wilie Nelson and my band. When I sang the chorus, they echoed me when I would sing “Good morning John.” When I got to the line that said “I love you, John,” Willie said “He loves you, John,” and we all cracked up laughing. We never finished it, so I finished it myself.”
“Kristoffer “Kris” Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, and film actor. Born in Brownsville, Texas, he attended Pomona College, where he achieved a degree in literature and specialised in the poetry of Blake. Whilst at college, he published a series of short stories in Atlantic Monthly, and went on to win a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford.
It was in 1958, during his stay in England, that Kristofferson first performed his own music, under the pseudonym ‘Kris Carson’. After graduating from Oxford, Kristofferson served in the US army for five years and, upon being discharged, turned down a teaching post in order to pursue his music career in Nashville. (source: allmusic.com)
Good Morning John Lyrics
Kris Kristofferson
Good Morning, John!
Ain’t it great to see your future shining brighter in the naked light of day?
Ain’t it great to see your future shining brighter than the naked light of day?
You maid it, son!
But I confess there was a time or two I thought that you might let it slip away.
I love you, John!
In the cold and holy darkness you were always shining brighter than a star.
God bless you, John!
For the love and joy you’ve given and the living inspiration that you are.
You’ve scared me, John!
‘Cause you crossed so many borders into danger with a price upon your head.
They got you, John!
And it hurts to see so many friends, who ran along beside you lying dead.
I know you, John!
There ain’t nothing you can’t handle now, ’cause there ain’t nothing bigger than your heart.
There ain’t nothing you can’t handle out there ain’t nothing bigger than your heart.
Keep shining, John!
Keep smiling, John!
For you owe it to the others and the dark and holy wonder that you are.
Hang in there, John!
It’s a rocky role to glory, but the strangest and strongest will survive.
Keep smiling, John!
We’ll both make it there tomorrow but today lets say we’re lucky we’re alive.
We won’t make it there tomorrow, but today let’s say we’re lucky we’re alive.
I’ll see you John!
Though the best of good intentions have a way of gettin’ scattered by the wind.
I know you, John!
There ain’t nothing you can’t handle now, ’cause there ain’t nothing bigger than your heart.
I’m leavin’ John!
You can lose your mind and mem’ry but you ain’t gonna lose me as your friend.
I love you, John.
You can lose your mind or memory, but you’ll never lose me as your friend.
Good morning, John!
(Good morning John…)
Tags: Kris Kristofferson, Kris Kristofferson music, top country, classic country
