About the song
Kris Kristofferson’s Out of Mind, Out of Sight. Now that’s a song that takes you on a journey, doesn’t it? Released in 1972 on the iconic Jesus Was a Capricorn album, it’s a classic Kristofferson track, weaving together themes of weary travel, disillusionment, and the fleeting nature of connection.
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From the opening lines, a sense of restlessness sets in. “Buddy tip your bottle back and climb aboard the bus,” Kristofferson sings, his voice a gravelly rasp that’s seen its share of miles. We’re immediately thrust into the world of a traveling musician, one who’s been on the road for what feels like forever. There’s a camaraderie with the band, a shared experience of late nights and long stretches of highway, but there’s also a loneliness that lingers beneath the surface.
The lyrics paint a picture of a world that’s both vast and strangely homogenous. “We been on now since I remember,” Kristofferson croons, “We’ve been everywhere/ And I’ve seen everything there is.” Yet, despite the constant movement, a sense of disconnection pervades. The line “London is 100 miles away from where we’re in/ A thousand years behind” throws time and space into a dizzying blur. The world seems to be whizzing by, a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds that never quite coalesce into meaning.
Out of Mind, Out of Sight isn’t just about the physical journey of a traveling musician, though. It delves deeper, exploring the emotional toll of a life constantly on the move. The line “I never saw the light/ Scared to death of time” speaks to a fear of being lost in the relentless passage of days. The connections made on the road are fleeting, “We’ll never see you again,” and the comfort they offer is temporary. It’s a sentiment echoed later in the song: “We can wonder how we ever got around/ Out of mind, out of sight, out of time.”
There’s a touch of dark humor in the song too. The line “If you ain’t bombed in Birmingham than you ain’t one of us/ We don’t really give a damn” injects a cynical bite into the camaraderie. It’s a reminder that the shared experience of the road can be a harsh one, marked by hardship and a certain numbness to the world.
Out of Mind, Out of Sight is a masterclass in storytelling through song. With its evocative lyrics and Kristofferson’s signature gruff vocals, it paints a vivid picture of a life lived on the fringes, a life forever searching for meaning in the endless expanse of the road. It’s a song that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt lost or disconnected, a reminder that the journey itself can be just as important as the destination, even if the path is ultimately shrouded in uncertainty.
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