About the song
Kris Kristofferson’s “Sister Sinead” (2009) is a poignant tribute to the late Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor, who courted controversy in 1992 when she tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II during a live performance on Saturday Night Live. The song offers a sympathetic perspective on O’Connor’s actions, acknowledging her passionate commitment to social justice and her unwavering belief in the power of music to effect change.
The incident that sparked widespread outrage occurred two weeks before O’Connor was scheduled to appear as a musical guest on SNL. During her performance of Bob Marley’s “War,” she altered the lyrics to protest the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of child sexual abuse cases. After singing the line “racism,” she substituted it with “child abuse” and held up a photograph of the Pope, tearing it into pieces before throwing them towards the camera. Her defiant act was a powerful statement against institutional hypocrisy and a call for accountability.
Kristofferson, who was present at the SNL taping, witnessed the aftermath of O’Connor’s performance firsthand. In an interview, he recalled being “pissed off” by the stage manager’s attempt to remove her from the stage. He defended her actions, emphasizing her genuine concern for human rights and her unwavering commitment to her beliefs.
Despite the backlash she faced, O’Connor remained steadfast in her convictions. In a 1997 interview, she expressed regret for the “ridiculous act” of tearing up the photograph but maintained that she had done so out of a sense of rebellion against the faith, not as a rejection of it. She also cited Saint Augustine’s quote “Anger is the first step towards courage” as a justification for her actions.
Kristofferson’s “Sister Sinead” captures the essence of O’Connor’s spirit and her unwavering commitment to her beliefs. The song’s lyrics offer a compassionate understanding of her actions, acknowledging the complexities of her character and the challenges she faced throughout her life. Through his heartfelt tribute, Kristofferson honors O’Connor’s legacy as a fearless advocate for social justice and a powerful voice in the world of music.
Video
Lyrics
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