Premium Only Content
![Pop Song 225 'Why me?' Kris Kristofferson 1972](https://1a-1791.com/video/s8/6/D/2/Q/8/D2Q8e.qR4e.jpg)
Pop Song 225 'Why me?' Kris Kristofferson 1972
Pop Song 225 'Why me?' Kris Kristofferson 1972
Kristofferson had become the toast of Nashville in the early 1970s, with the massive success of compositions including "For the Good Times", "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Morning Coming Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", among many others. He had a hit of his own as well, with "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)".
"Why Me" was recorded by Kristofferson in 1972, featuring backing vocals by soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin. It was released on the album Jesus Was a Capricorn in 1973, and became the biggest hit of his career.
According to country music historian Bill Malone, Kristofferson wrote the song during an emotionally low period of his life after having attended a religious service conducted by the Rev. Jimmie Rogers Snow. Malone wrote, "'Why Me, Lord'" - as the song is sometimes known - "may seem greatly out of character for Kristofferson, but it can be interpreted as his own personal religious rephrasing of 'Sunday Morning Coming Down.' In this case, he is 'coming down' not from drugs, but from the whole hedonistic euphoria of the (1960s)." Malone described Kristofferson's gruff vocal styling as "perfect" for the song, since "he sounds like a man who has lived a lot but is now humbling himself before God."
Kristofferson said he went with friends to the church service where he was moved by Larry Gatlin's song "Help Me (Lord)". He said that he had never thought of needing help, but he was at a low point in his life. When the pastor asked the congregation, "Is anybody feeling lost?" "Up goes my hand," Kristofferson says. The Pastor then asked, "Are you ready to accept Christ? Kneel down there." "I'm kneeling there," Kristofferson continues, "and I carry a big load of guilt around...and I was just out of control, crying. It was a release. It really shook me up." Kristofferson later said, "It was just a personal thing I was going through at the time. I had some kind of experience that I can't even explain."
Kristofferson met June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash in a hotel room in 1972 to play them two songs he had written. Kristofferson had just attended a rough screening of a movie Johnny and June were heavily involved in, entitled The Gospel Road. Johnny Cash's memoir Man in Black reiterated the story that Larry Gatlin sang "Help Me" at the Evangel Temple, which inspired Kristofferson to write the song. Kristofferson also played Cash the song "Burden of Freedom", which was used in The Gospel Road.
-
3:24
Cyrus Saladin Ming
13 days agoPop Song 641 of 1000 'Blue Collar Man' Styx 1978
13 -
47:17
Kimberly Guilfoyle
4 hours agoWoke Gets DOGE’d, Live with AJ Rice & Jarrett Stepman | Ep. 197
18.3K21 -
20:11
Candace Show Podcast
2 hours agoBecoming Brigitte: Candace Owens x Xavier Poussard | Ep 6
45.9K180 -
LIVE
Dr Disrespect
7 hours ago🔴LIVE - DR DISRESPECT - ELDEN RING DLC - REVENGE
3,312 watching -
1:01:52
In The Litter Box w/ Jewels & Catturd
1 day agoBest Presidents' Day Ever! | In the Litter Box w/ Jewels & Catturd – Ep. 743 – 2/17/2025
70.1K56 -
1:29:15
Simply Bitcoin
6 hours ago $6.51 earnedThey JUST Triggered A Global Gold Rush: $1M Bitcoin is coming! | EP 1184
68K26 -
1:50:47
The Quartering
6 hours agoElon Musk's 13th Baby, Trump Attends Daytona 500, and Ramaswamy Enters the Ohio Governor's Race
91.2K39 -
1:28:04
Russell Brand
6 hours agoBREAKING: UK Troops To Ukraine | Zelensky Wants “Army Of Europe” | JD Vance SLAMS EU Tyranny – SF538
164K51 -
1:46:20
Benny Johnson
7 hours agoPANIC: Feds FLEE DC After Mass PURGE, Fired USAID Activists EXPOSED | Trump DOMINATES Daytona 500
153K157 -
1:58:43
The Charlie Kirk Show
6 hours agoCBS Steps In It + Hockey Brawl + Judicial Standoff | Yoo, Schlapp, BigTree | 2.17.2025
147K48