The song was first recorded and released by Roger Miller in early July 1971 on Mercury Records Miller's version entered the Top 30 of Billboard 's Hot Country Singles. Kristofferson was inspired by the scenery of the Andes mountain range. The following track 'Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)', which was written by Kristofferson in 1969 as he accompanied Dennis Hopper during the production of The Last Movie, was also included in Cisco Pike. The song is about a man who reminisces about his past. 'Breakdown (A Long Way From Home)' is featured on Kristofferson's acting debut, the 1972 film Cisco Pike, which was still unreleased at the time of the album's recording. The song is about the war experience of a preacher's son from Oklahoma. To Shaver's displeasure, Bare also informed him he changed the name of the song to 'Good Christian Soldier' and that he now had a co-writing credit. Weeks later, Bare called Shaver to notify him Kristofferson had included the song on his album. Shaver, who thought Kristofferson mocked him, drove to Texas. Kristofferson was impressed and assured Shaver he would include it on his release. Shaver sang 'Christian Soldier', which he had just completed. When Kristofferson arrived, Bare asked Shaver to play one of his songs.

Bare agreed and asked Shaver to stay and wait for Kristofferson. After a night out, Kristofferson wanted to tell Bare about the new album he was working on. Bare pleaded with Shaver, who was already set to leave. Atkins was unhappy with the result, and following his reaction Shaver decided to leave Nashville. Shaver, who did not understand the expression, decided instead to write a song about how he felt the experience of war would affect him.

Bare introduced Shaver to Chet Atkins, who asked him to write a ' tongue-in-cheek' song about the Vietnam War. 'Good Christian Soldier' was written by Billy Joe Shaver, who was working for singer Bobby Bare as a songwriter. 'Billy Dee' described the life struggles of a heroin addict whose life ends with an overdose. While the locals acknowledge them as they pass by, he laments that his partner is absent. At the end of the story, the main character walks with his daughter. The song tells the story of a young girl who follows the main character, and the positive reaction of the locals who see them together. As he approached the building with his daughter Tracy, a patron shouted: 'Look, here comes Critter, and the kid', in reference to one of Kristofferson's nicknames, Critter. The inspiration for the song was an experience Kristofferson had at Tally-Ho Tavern. 'Jody and the Kid' had been recorded in 1968 by Roy Drusky and became a radio hit while Kristofferson worked as a janitor for Columbia Records. According to Kristofferson's biographers, due to the autobiographical nature of the record, he may have experienced guilt because his sporadic partners aimed to romantic-related results, while he did not. Kristofferson was known among his peers to easily cause the infatuation of women, a recurring theme in the songs of the album. As the character gets drunk, he tries to warn the woman of 'The Silver Tongued Devil' that alcohol brings out in him and how it controls him, inevitably seducing women. Kristofferson describes a man drinking in a bar he is too shy to talk to a woman. The song is set in Tally-Ho Tavern, a Music Row bar where Kristofferson worked earlier as a bartender the patrons included musicians and songwriters. 'The Silver Tongued Devil and I' opens the album. Problems playing this file? See media help. The following morning, he returned to the studio and recorded the songs for his second release, titled The Silver Tongued Devil and I. Joplin's album included a cover of his original composition ' Me and Bobby McGee'.

Upon returning to Nashville, Tennessee, in early 1971, he received with his mail at Combine Music Joplin's posthumous album Pearl, which at the time was still unreleased. While in California, Kristofferson met and became friends with singer Janis Joplin. ĭuring the tour, Kristofferson performed on The Johnny Cash Show. While performing, he would not face the audience and mumbled the words to his songs. That year, Kristofferson started an eighteen-month tour, during which he suffered a bout of walking pneumonia, which was worsened by his alcohol consumption. His debut album Kristofferson was a critical success but it sold poorly. In 1969, Kris Kristofferson signed a recording contract with producer Fred Foster, and joined Monument Records and its publishing house Combine Music.

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