TAKER, THE
(Kris Kristofferson / Shel Silverstein)


Waylon Jennings - 1970
Billy Walker - 1970
Kris Kristofferson - 1971
Marty Robbins - 1973





He's a giver and he'll give her 
The kind of attention that she's never known
He's a teacher and he'll teach her 
To open the doors that she can't on her own
He's a lover and he'll love her 
In ways that she never has been loved before
He's a getter and he'll get her 
By getting her into the world she's been hungry'in for

He's a charmer and he'll charm her 
With money and manners that I never learned
He's a leader and he'll lead her 
Across pretty bridges he's plannin' to burn
He's a talker and he'll talk her right off of her feet
But he won't talk for long
'Cause he's a doer and he'll do her, the way that I'd never
But damned if he won't do her wrong

'Cause he's a taker, he'll take her to places 
And make her fly higher than she's ever dared to
He'll take his time before takin' advantage
Takin' her easy and slow
And after he's taken the body and soul that she gives him
He'll take her for granted
Then he'll take off and leave her
Takin' all of her pride as he goes

Yes, he's a taker, he'll take her to places 
And make her fly higher than she's ever dared to
He'll take his time before takin' advantage
Takin' her easy and slow
And after he's taken the body and soul that she gives him
He'll take her for granted
Then he'll take off and leave her
Takin' all of her pride as he goes






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2012)