By: Evan Callahan

Kris Kristofferson has long stood as a highly regarded voice in American songwriting, his work reaching far beyond the confines of country music. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a distinction that honors not only his influence but also his craftsmanship. Yet, as author Richard Somma argues in his new book Kristofferson: 67 Astounding Songs, there remains much to be said about the artistic depth behind Kristofferson’s words. Somma’s study moves beyond the well-documented historical and cultural impact of Kristofferson’s music to focus on the artistry, rhythm, sound, and empathy that makes his lyrics resonate across generations.

Somma points to a Time magazine article by Andrew Chow (September 30, 2024) that highlights Kristofferson’s role in transforming country music. Chow credits him with broadening the genre’s emotional and thematic scope, describing how songs like “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” gave voice to perspectives rarely heard in mainstream Nashville. Chow wrote that in that song, Kristofferson sang “from the perspective of a dope-smoking vagabond in an existential crisis,” a radical move for its time. This innovation is often credited with contributing to the Outlaw Country movement, influencing artists who sought authenticity over formula.

But for Somma, the real magic lies in Kristofferson’s artistry—the deliberate choices in rhythm, sound, and imagery that elevate his songs to poetry. “Not enough has been written about the artistic part of his career,” Somma explains. “That is what my book attempts to address.” In his analysis, he examines the intricate writing that gives Kristofferson’s work its enduring power.

Consider again “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” Somma points out the musicality in the repetition of the “S” sounds, which mirror the slow, soft atmosphere of a quiet morning. The lyric “sound on the sleepin’ city sidewalks Sunday mornin’” creates a rhythm that lingers in the listener’s ear. Kristofferson’s words do not merely describe a scene—they sing it. Somma also draws attention to Kristofferson’s subtle humor, which often surfaces even in moments of pain. The speaker in “Sunday Mornin’…” drinks beer for breakfast and claims to like it enough to “take one more for dessert.” That small, sardonic wit captures a distinctly human resilience. The line “my cleanest dirty shirt” is both funny and heartbreaking, a simple image that embodies the struggle to keep dignity intact amid despair.

This ability to find joy and irony within struggle, Somma argues, is part of what makes Kristofferson an influential writer. “The signs of the joy of life in a Kristofferson song are found even in the most surprising places,” he says. That balance of grit and grace gives the songs their timeless appeal.

Another piece that exemplifies Kristofferson’s sensitivity to the human condition is “Billy Dee.” Somma describes it as a poignant story wrapped in deceptively cheerful music. The song’s rhythm is upbeat, almost celebratory, yet the lyrics tell of a young man destroyed by addiction. “Billy was driven toward the darkness by the devil in his veins,” Kristofferson writes, and by the end of the song, “Billy Dee, O.D.’d.” Despite the bleak ending, the melody and repetition create a sense of vitality that refuses to let tragedy define the narrative. The song celebrates Billy’s life without downplaying his flaws or the harshness of the human condition. Somma highlights Kristofferson’s use of sound play: “fooling with foolish things,” “getting by on gettin’ high,” “facin’ and forgettin’ every warning.” These musical bursts’s cheerful rhythm celebrates life despite tragedy, reminding listeners that life and loss often coexist in a single chord.

Somma’s years of study also reshaped his personal understanding of Kristofferson’s lyrics. At first, he assumed many of the songs were autobiographical. It seemed natural to believe that “Why Me” reflected Kristofferson’s own spiritual awakening, or that “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” came from his lived experience of despair. Over time, however, Somma realized that focusing on autobiographical truth missed the greater point. “It is not that now I don’t believe these scenes allude to his real life,” he says. “It is that now I see the issue of autobiographical truth as irrelevant.” What matters, he explains, is how Kristofferson transforms experience through imagination. “He repurposes his experiences through a wild imagination for the sake of the song.”

This insight led Somma to a thoughtful conclusion: Kristofferson is not merely a reporter of real life, but a writer who transforms his experiences into art. While his songs may reflect elements of truth, they go beyond the scope of memoir. “I went from thinking that Kristofferson was a great reporter to thinking he was a great writer,” Somma says.

When asked how Kristofferson gives voice to people and struggles that mainstream music ignores, Somma takes a humble approach. He admits that his work does not attempt to chart the boundaries of mainstream versus outsider themes. Instead, he focuses on the diversity of struggles and emotions present in Kristofferson’s lyrics. “He sings the songs of many wonderful writers,” Somma notes. “He embraces the world.” For him, Kristofferson’s empathy and attentiveness to his surroundings serve as their own form of research. His realism, whether born of observation or imagination, gives shape to experiences that might otherwise remain unspoken.

Through Kristofferson: 67 Astounding Songs, Somma presents a deep and illuminating journey through the craft of one of America’s prominent lyricists. He examines not only what Kristofferson wrote, but how he wrote—how the rhythm of his syllables, the honesty of his images, and the subtlety of his humor work together to reveal something essential about being human. The result is a celebration of artistry that is as much about listening as it is about understanding.

Kristofferson’s songs remind us that beauty can live within brokenness, that humor can coexist with sorrow, and that poetry can thrive in the language of ordinary people. Thanks to Somma’s passionate and insightful study, readers can now see just how much craft and heart went into the songs that continue to echo through American life.