
About The Song
Kris Kristofferson, the rugged wanderer with a guitar and a heart full of stories, has left an indelible mark on the world of music with his deep ballads and poetic lyrics. Among his vast musical treasure trove, “Who’s to Bless and Who’s to Blame” stands out as a precious gem, shimmering with melancholic beauty and haunting questions about the human condition.
Released in 1975, “Who’s to Bless and Who’s to Blame” is the title track of Kristofferson’s album of the same name. From the very first notes, the melancholic and emotive melody draws the listener into a world of profound introspection, where the dark and light sides of the human soul are laid bare.
Kristofferson uses metaphorical lyrics and poetic imagery to paint a picture of life rife with contradictions and paradoxes. The song revolves around the eternal question: Who’s to bless and who’s to blame? – a question that has no easy answer, forcing each person to contemplate and find their own response.
The chorus of the song is a poignant lament about the injustice and cruelty of life: “Who’s to bless the little boy who died with a gun in his hand? Who’s to blame for the scars that never heal?” The rhetorical questions pierce like sharp arrows into the listener’s heart, forcing them to confront the darkest corners of society and themselves.
“Who’s to Bless and Who’s to Blame” is not just a song; it is a reminder of the fragility of life and the complexity of human nature. Kristofferson offers no answers to his questions; instead, he leaves the listener to ponder and find their own meaning in the song.
With its haunting melody, profound lyrics, and deeply humane message, “Who’s to Bless and Who’s to Blame” has become one of Kris Kristofferson’s most iconic ballads, continuing to touch the hearts of listeners across generations. The song is a testament to the power of music to connect people and evoke profound thoughts about oneself and the world around them.
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Lyric
If a cheated man’s a loserAnd a cheater never winsAnd if beggars can’t be choosersâtil they’re weak and wealthy menAnd the old keep getting olderAnd the young must do the sameAnd it’s never getting betterWho’s to bless and who’s to blame?All the cards are on the tableYou done laid your money downDon’t complain about your chances, boyIt’s the only game in townAnd the meaning doesn’t matterNor the way you play the gameTo the winner or the loserWho’s to bless and who’s to blame?Keep your hands above the tableAnd your backs against the wallToss your chips in with your chances, boyLet âem lay the way they fallFor the moral doesn’t matterBroken rules are all the sameTo the broken or the breakerWho’s to bless and who’s to blame?Who’s to bless and who’s to blame?