Kristofferson nailed down a winner with this poetry and the song which accompanies it. It has been one of my all time favorites since I heard the John Denver version so long ago. And YES the Emmylou Harris version and that brings up a point. Could the woman be the focal point of the song?
Couldn't she be Casey's last shot at salvation? All that Casey has sought by following the "Capitalist Dream" or the American Dream, if you will has not resulted in "Life" for Casey. But the unknown woman with a lonely passion in her heart and tears in her voice, she has the answer but knows that it would take them both to realize that "love" is the answer to their need.