“From the Bottle to the Bottom” won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (with Kris and Rita) The solo version here only is on compilation albums of Kris… On one of them there was this date to the song… Already in April 1969 Billy Walker and the Tennessee Walkers’ version of Kris’ song peaked in the Top 20 of the country charts…
You can tell he studied philosophy. Just listen to his lyrics! It might be country as hell, but you got to admit that Kris Kristofferson is a damn good songwriter!
FROM THE BOTTLE TO THE BOTTOM
You ask me if I’m happy now
That’s good as any joke I’ve heard
It seems that since I’ve seen you last
I’ve done forgot the meaning of the word
If happiness is empty rooms and drinkin’ in the afternoon
Well I suppose I’m happy as a clam But if it’s got a thing to do
with smilin’ or forgettin’ you
Well I don’t guess that I could say I am
Chorus:
Did you ever see a down-and-outer waking up alone without a blanket on to keep him from the dew
When the water from the weeds had soaked the paper
she’d been puttin’ in his shoes to keep the ground from comin’ through
And his future feels as empty as the pockets in his pants
because he’s never seen a single dream come true
That’s the way that I’ve been feelin’ since the day I started falling
From the bottle to the bottom stool by stool
Learnin’ hard to live with losin’ you
You wonder if I’m better off with freedom now to do the things I choose
Well, all my time’s my own,and I got nothin’ left but sleepin’ time to lose.There’s no one here to carry on
If I stay out the whole night long
or give a tinker’s damn if I don’t call
I’m livin’ like I wanted to
And doin’ things I wanna do
And nothin’ means a thing to me at all.