The Pilgrim; Chapter 33 lyrics

Song information

Artist: Kris Kristofferson
Album: Live At The Philharmonic

Lyrics

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' outa 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 blessin' or a curse
Or if the goin' up was worth the comin' down--

Chorus:
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
And he's traded in tomorrow for today--
Runnin' from his devils, lord, and reachin' for the stars
And losin' all he's 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
The goin' up was worth the comin' down--

Chorus:
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 lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home