When Kris Kristofferson believed and stood by Sinead

[Malmsy]

In a world of Jason Aldeans, be a Kris Kristofferson

From a FB post:

https://www.facebook.com/hamckinney/posts/pfbid02KoKubuwsjA4Lnm2upcA87pauxDhLt3yrVf5BgRcshWFmeT1uqS7Mh1sMFLTzRvvsl


The week after her SNL performance in 1992, Sinéad O’Connor was scheduled to perform at a tribute to Bob Dylan. Under the circumstances, most artists would have canceled. She was not most artists. She came, and was booed, loud and long and near universally by the crowd, as soon as she stepped on the stage. She stood at the mic, waiting. Later she would describe how awful it felt, but in the moment, she looked resolute. The organizers sent Kris Kristofferson to get her off stage. Kris, who is a saint in his own right, declined to do so and instead comforted her, whispered encouragement, and stayed by her side until she was able to perform. He is said to have told her “Don’t let the bastards get you down,” and she replied “I’m not down.” And she was not. She was brave and strong and talented and fierce and RIGHT about the Church’s cover ups of abuse. This world burns women like her at the stake. Life wasn’t fair to her. We did not deserve her or her gifts, but I am so grateful for what she shared anyway. May she rest in peace, and may we fight the real enemy in her honor.

Kris Kristofferson later wrote a song about that night called “Sister Sinéad.” I don’t love that he refers to her as a “little girl,” she was a woman, not a child, though it reminds me that even with good intentions we men have to be aware of our role in the patriarchy and minimizing women. I very much like the line “some candles flicker and some candles fade/and some burn as true as my sister Sinéad.”

I'm singing this song for my sister Sinead
Concerning the god awful mess that she made
When she told them her truth just as hard as she could
Her message profoundly was misunderstood
There's humans entrusted with guarding our gold
And humans in charge of the saving of souls
And humans responded all over the world
Condemning that bald headed brave little girl


And maybe she's crazy and maybe she ain't
But so was Picasso and so were the saints
And she's never been partial to shackles or chains
She's too old for breaking and too young to tame

It's askin' for trouble to stick out your neck
In terms of a target a big silhouette
But some candles flicker and some candles fade
And some burn as true as my sister Sinead

And maybe she's crazy and maybe she ain't
But so was Picasso and so were the saints
And she's never been partial to shackles or chains
She's too old for breaking and too young to tame