Tell you what, regardless of any literal story Mr Kristofferson may have attached to the words, (and I doubt he did) the song strikes a chord with many men.

When Tony Capstick sang it, the room used to be more quiet and thoughtful than usual. Mind you, he normally finished a profound song such as this, let the audience absorb it and then say something equally profound to follow it, such as;

What's the difference between light and hard?

You can go to sleep with the light on.




Still miss the complicated old bugger.... I don't sing it because of getting drunk and playing away fixtures, I sing it in homage to an old friend whom I first heard sing it.