Help Me Make It Through The Night

Album

Help Me Make It Through The Night

Label

Mega Records

Genre

Country

Composer(s)

Kris Kristofferson

Entered Chart

Jan 16, 1971

Peak Date

Mar 27, 1971

Released

September 1970

Recorded

May 1970

Catalog #

Mega 615-0015

B-Side

When Michael Calls

This country classic was written by the songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson, who released the original version on his debut album, Kristofferson, in 1970. He was sweeping floors and emptying ashtrays at Columbia Records in Nashville before scoring big with "Help Me Make It Through The Night," as well as a series of other songs, including "Me And Bobby McGee" (a #1 hit and an enduring rock classic for the late Janis Joplin), "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "For the Good Times," and "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)." Kristofferson was a Golden Gloves boxer, a Phi Beta Kappa college graduate, and a Rhodes Scholar who spent time at Oxford University in England before becoming a commercial helicopter pilot. But his first love was country songwriting. He turned down a teaching position at West Point to work as a janitor at Columbia, trying to break into the music business. Break in he did indeed, but it took some persistence and theatrics. For example, he landed a helicopter in Johnny Cash's yard to get the famous singer's attention so he could hand over some demo tapes of his original songs. Persistence and unconventional tactics paid off handsomely for the multi-talented Kristofferson. Kristofferson got the idea for this song after reading an Esquire interview with Frank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Frank replied, "I'm for anything that gets you through the night." The song tells the story of an impending tryst that might be scandalous - perhaps one of them is married. But the singer just needs to make it through the night and isn't worried about the consequences. Sammi Smith kept the spirit of the song but changed the perspective from Kristofferson's original, starting with the line, "Take the ribbon from my hair" instead of "Take the ribbon from your hair." Kris Kristofferson didn't have a following when his original version was released in April 1970, so it got little attention, but Sammi Smith's cover, released a few months later, went to #1 on the Country chart and crossed over to the Hot 100 at #8. This catapulted Kristofferson into a songwriters' spotlight reserved for the coveted few, and earned him a Grammy for Best Country song in 1971. It also won Smith a Grammy for best Country Vocal Performance, Female, as well as the Country Music Association's Single of the Year Award. Smith died on February 12, 2005 at the age of 61. Her vocal performance on this song is regarded by some as one of the finest in country music. "Help Me Make It Through The Night" was recorded by a brigade of artists in the '70s after Kristofferson and Smith released their versions at the start of the decade, including covers from Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Joan Baez, Ray Price, Lynn Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton-John, Andy Williams, Skeeter Davis, Tammy Wynette, Dottie West, Engelbert Humperdinck, John Holt, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and a duet from June Carter and Johnny Cash. In 1980, Willie Nelson's version went to #4 on the Country chart. Dottie West, who would later record a cover of this song, originally turned it down because it was too provocative. Smith didn't have a problem with it. "For me, it was just a very tender, moving song," she told Country Song Roundup. "I honestly don't see anything distasteful about the song." The Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter John Holt had a hit in the UK with his version of the song. His cover peaked at #6 in 1974.

Take the ribbon from my hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Lay it soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side
Til the early mornin' light
All I'm takin' is your time
Help me make it through the night

I don't care what's right or wrong
I won't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
But tonight I need a friend

Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night

And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
I don't want to be alone
Help me make it through the night