“NOTHING DON’T MEAN NOTHING BUT IT’S FREE”

The above is a line from Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” It’s not surprising that lines like this keep appearing in Kristofferson’s songs, since he’s not only a highly creative person but also holds degrees in English Literature from Pomona College and Oxford. As a long-time fan of his music, I am often fascinated by some of his lyrics, such as the one above. The logic in their grammar usually seems backward, but their meaning is easy to understand if you don’t overthink it. : O)

“Anything” or “Everything” is meaningless and worthless if one can assign a monetary value to it. Therefore, the first use of “Nothing” could perhaps be understood as “Everything” or “Anything.” In other words, values must be rooted in the freedom of choice, not coercion or mere personal gain. The word “mean” conveys this sense of “existential worth.” In short, human meaning depends on freedom of choice. It sounds as if Kris had read some existentialist thinkers, or even Socrates, who said, somewhat cryptically, “Wickedness runs faster than death.”

Along with these seemingly contradictory lines, one might mention others, like: “I put on my cleanest dirty shirt” in “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down.” This seems like a relatively backward way to say “least dirty.” Still, it reflects a broader picture of general disarray and sloppiness, and perhaps a disregard for the usual Sunday-morning dress code. At the same time, the entire song expresses a warm, gentle gratitude for the world in general, where usual standards of cleanliness and neatness matter less than appreciating sunshine on a day off. 

Some of Kris’ songs, like many other “country songs,” include passing references to well-known cities across the country. Having driven around our beautiful nation numerous times, I always pay attention to such references. In “Me and Bobbie MacGee,” Kris laments that “Somewhere near Salinas I let Bobbie slip away.” Having lived in and traveled through California many times, my ear naturally detects these references that add a lot of “local color” to his music. Salinas is a hub for Northern California vegetable farming, and I have driven through that area many times. It’s both poignant and sad that he mourns having let his fun-loving partner “slip away.” Still, it’s typical of the lifestyle that “troubadours” who sing their way through life often embody. Kris Kristofferson lived such a life, and we are better for it. 

Kris Kristofferson