They Killed Him

"They Killed Him" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson for his October 1986 album Repossessed.

It is a tribute to his martyred personal heroes: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. Prior to Kristofferson recording the song himself, Johnny Cash recorded the song in 1984 as one of his final singles for Columbia Records. The song was covered by Bob Dylan for his album Knocked Out Loaded, released in July 1986.