About the song
In the vast world of country and folk music, few voices resonate with emotional depth like those of Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge. When the two reunited for their poignant duet, “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends,” it wasn’t just a musical moment—it was a reflection of two hearts that once beat in rhythm, now exploring the uncertainties of love through song.
Originally penned by Kristofferson himself and famously recorded by Ronnie Milsap, the song takes on a deeper, more intimate meaning when sung by Kristofferson and Coolidge. Their personal history—once husband and wife during the 1970s—adds a haunting layer of truth to the lyrics. The song becomes more than just a ballad; it turns into a conversation between two people who know the highs and lows of love, the fragile balance between hope and heartbreak.
“Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” is a plea wrapped in melody. It’s the cry of someone who wants to live in the moment, savor the sweetness of love without the burden of knowing where it might lead. “I’ve lost before and I know the score,” Kristofferson sings, and you can hear the weariness of experience in his voice. Coolidge, with her soft, soulful tone, responds like someone who understands that ache too well.
What makes this version of the song so compelling is the chemistry—not just romantic, but emotional and artistic. It feels raw, unfiltered, and deeply human. Their voices, weathered by time and life, carry a richness that only decades of living and loving can bring.
In revisiting this song, Kristofferson and Coolidge aren’t trying to rewrite the past. They’re simply honoring it—acknowledging the beauty and the pain, and the unresolved endings that love so often brings. And in doing so, they remind us all that sometimes, not knowing how the story ends is the most powerful part of the tale.
