Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, has made quite a name for himself recently. Between releasing a bluegrass cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You” and playing at the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival over the weekend, Lukas’ talents are coming to fruition on the biggest stages. However, this run of his has come to a brief hiatus due to the passing of one of his “greatest inspirations”—Kris Kristofferson.

Given Nelson and Kristofferson’s relationship, Lukas knew Kristofferson for his entire life. He acknowledges growing up with Kristofferson in an Instagram post where he wrote, “I grew up with him and his family. I love them, I love him, and I always will.”

The post pictured a young Kristofferson holding an infant Lukas, thus visually articulating just how long the iconic troubadour had been in his life. Consequently, Lukas seemingly thought Kristofferson hung the moon and it shows in his cover of “Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends.”

Lukas’ Cover of Kris Kristofferson’s Romantic Goodbye

It is ominous that this cover is arising at the time of Kristofferson’s death, as the tune is about two lovers’ impending separation and not wanting to know how and when it happens. Much like Kristofferson’s farewell to the world, it was sudden, unexpected, and tragic. Lukas’ cover of the song embodies all those tropes as he picks the notes and provides the song with a newfound tragically prophetic meaning.

Released four years ago, Lukas performed this song seemingly out of sheer affection and enjoyment. However, given the current context, the song takes on a whole new connotation. A connotation revolving around goodbyes, endings, and the memories that will follow.

It’s heartbreaking and too timely for one’s liking. Although, it seems it incidentally might provide Lukas some catharsis amid losing one of his biggest role models. Whatever this song stands for in Lukas’ head, to the masses and mourners, it seemingly resembles some sort of poetic close to Kristofferson’s legacy with the Nelson family. The cover and the timing of it’s resurfacing are stranger than fiction, but leave it to Kris Kristofferson to be the subject surrounding this elegiac musical moment.

Photo by Keith Griner/Getty Images