time of the album's recording. The song is about a man who reminisces about his past. The following track "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)", which was written by Kristofferson in 1969 as he accompanied Dennis Hopper during the production of The Last Movie, was also included in Cisco Pike. Kristofferson was inspired by the scenery of the Andes mountain range. The song was first recorded and released by Roger Miller in early July 1971 on Mercury Records; Miller's version entered the Top 30 of Billboard Hot Country Singles. "The Taker", also written by Kristofferson, was first recorded by Waylon Jennings and released as the title track of his 1971 album. The song is about a man who attracts a woman who becomes infatuated with him. The man takes advantage of the woman, takes her for granted and leaves her. "When I Loved Her", the next track, was first recorded and released by Ray Price in July 1971 as the B-side to another Kristofferson song, "I'd Rather Be Sorry". "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33" describes a man who has fallen upon hard times. The character had a past full of "money, love and dreams" that he traded for his current life as he went after his purpose despite of the consequences. The song was inspired by Kristofferson's own experience of living as a songwriter, as well as that of one of his often-unemployed peers. He opened the song by listing the artists who inspired it; Chris Gantry, Johnny Cash, Bobby Neuwirth, Norman Norbert, Funky Donnie Fritts, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dennis Hopper, Jerry Jeff Walker and Paul Siebel. The song is also featured in Cisco Pike. "Epitaph (Black and Blue)" closes the album. Kristofferson listened repeatedly to Janis Joplin's album Pearl and was affected by her recent death; he wrote the song in one night. Session musician Donnie Fritts assisted him with the composition on the keyboard. Fritts wrote the tune initially using simple chords that he eventually modified using rhythm-and-blues-style passing chords. As Fritts performed the recent changes for Kristofferson, Foster—who was in the control room—said he wanted the song to be only performed by Fritts and Kristofferson for the album. Foster later added scarce string backing to the last verse. While recounting his experience to Uncut, Kristofferson said: "It's the kind of song you write because you have to, not because you want to". Style The