| Why Me | |
| Cover: | Why_Me_-_Kris_Kristofferson.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Kris Kristofferson |
| Album: | Jesus Was a Capricorn |
| B-Side: | Help Me |
| Released: | March 1973 |
| Recorded: | July 8, 1972 |
| Studio: | Monument Recording, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genre: | Country gospel |
| Length: | 3:26 |
| Label: | Monument Records 31909 |
| Producer: | Fred Foster |
| Prev Title: | Jesse Younger |
| Prev Year: | 1972 |
| Next Title: | A Song I'd Like to Sing |
| Next Year: | 1973 |
"Why Me" is an American country and gospel song written and recorded by American country music singer and songwriter Kris Kristofferson.
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.[1] 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."[1]
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."[2]
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.
"Why Me" was Kristofferson's lone major country hit as a solo recording artist, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in July 1973.[3] The song peaked only at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, but had at that time one of the longer runs (19 weeks) in the top 40[4] and the most chart reversals (6) in one run on the Hot 100. The song spent 38 weeks in the Hot 100 consecutively, almost tying the record set by Johnny Mathis' song "Wonderful! Wonderful!" on the charts for 39 weeks. The song ranked sixth on the list of Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1973.
"Why Me" was certified gold for sales of one million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.[5] [6]
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 | |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles[7] | 19 | |
| Dutch Top 40[8] | 31 | |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[9] | 1 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 16 | |
| US Billboard Easy Listening[11] | 28 | |
| US Billboard Hot Country Singles[12] | 1 | |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 57 |
| Rank | ||
| Canada RPM Top Singles[13] | 82 | |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa[14] | 1 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 6 |
