Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends – A Hauntingly Honest Love Song
Few songs capture the bittersweet complexity of love and fate as powerfully as “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends”, performed by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge. This heart-tugging duet, released during the peak of their musical and romantic partnership in the 1970s, is a stunning blend of lyrical vulnerability and emotional harmony.
The Song’s Origins
“Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” was written by Kris Kristofferson and originally recorded by Ronnie Milsap in 1974, who won a Grammy Award for his rendition. However, it gained a different kind of emotional weight when performed as a duet by Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, his then-wife and musical collaborator. Their version appears on their 1978 album “Natural Act”, the final album the couple released together before their separation.
Lyrics Full of Longing and Uncertainty
At its core, the song is about holding onto a fleeting moment of happiness while knowing it may not last. The line:
“I’ve seen enough to know that love’s no friend of mine…”
perfectly expresses the emotional fatigue that comes with heartbreak, even as the singer is still immersed in the warmth of love. The title line — “Please don’t tell me how the story ends” — is a plea to stay in the moment, to not ruin the present by anticipating the inevitable goodbye.
When sung by Kristofferson and Coolidge, the lyrics feel even more intimate. Their voices—his rough-edged and honest, hers smooth and soulful—mirror the contrast between hope and resignation.
A Real-Life Reflection of Love and Loss
The poignancy of this song is amplified by the real-life story of Kristofferson and Coolidge. Their musical chemistry was undeniable, but their relationship was marked by tension and eventual heartbreak. The duet stands as both a musical highlight and a deeply personal snapshot of their love story nearing its close.
Why the Song Still Resonates
“Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” continues to strike a chord with audiences in 2025 for the same reasons it did in the 1970s: its universal themes of impermanence, vulnerability, and emotional courage. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the beauty of love lies in its fragility.
With modern artists covering old classics and country-folk finding new audiences, songs like this remain timeless. It’s more than a duet — it’s a conversation, a confession, and a farewell all in one.
Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge: A Legacy of Emotion
Together, Kristofferson and Coolidge crafted music that was raw, real, and relatable. While their personal relationship may not have lasted, their recordings—especially “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends”—remain testaments to the power of honest songwriting and heartfelt performance.
Final Thoughts
For fans of classic country, lovers of poetic lyrics, or anyone who has ever wished to freeze a moment in time, “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” is essential listening. It’s a gentle, bittersweet reminder that some stories are best left unfinished—at least for a little while.
Lyrics: Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends
This could be our last good night together
We may never pass this way again.
Just let me enjoy it ’til it’s over, or forever
Please don’t tell me how the story ends.See the way our shadows come together
Softer than your fingers on my skin
Someday these may be all we remember of each other
Please don’t tell me how the story ends.Never’s just the echo of forever
Lonesome as a love that might have been.
Let me go on lovin’ and believin’ ’til it’s over
Please don’t tell me how the story ends.