Help Me Make It Through the Night

"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a country ballad written and composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson. It was covered later in 1970 by Sammi Smith, on the album Help Me Make It Through the Night. In 1982, Kris did a re-recording with Brenda Lee for the compilation album The Winning Hand. It has been covered since by many other artists from Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Bryan Ferry, Mark Eitzel, Tyler Childers and as a duet between Michael Bublé and Loren Allred.

For the Sammi Smith album, see Help Me Make It Through the Night (Sammi Smith album). For the Hank Crawford album, see Help Me Make It Through the Night (Hank Crawford album).

"Help Me Make It Through the Night"
Song by Kris Kristofferson
from the album Kristofferson
B-side	"Blame it on the Stones"
Released	1970
Recorded	1969
Studio	Monument Recording, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre	Country
Length	2:24
Label	Monument
Songwriter(s)	Kris Kristofferson
Producer(s)	Fred Foster
Audio
"Help Me Make It Through the Night" on YouTube

"Help Me Make It Through The Night"
Single by Sammi Smith
from the album Help Me Make It Through the Night
B-side	"When Michael Calls"
Released	November 1970
Recorded	May 6, 1970
Studio	Monument Recording, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre	Country
Label	Mega Records
Songwriter(s)	Kris Kristofferson
Producer(s)	Jim Malloy
Sammi Smith singles chronology
"Help Me Make It Through The Night" (1970) "I've Got to Have You" (1972)

Sammi Smith version

Smith's recording of the song (in May 1970) remains the most commercially successful, and best-known, version in the United States. Her recording ranks among the most successful country singles of all time in terms of sales, popularity, and radio airplay.^[1] It topped the country singles chart, and was also a crossover hit, reaching number eight on the U.S. pop singles chart. "Help Me Make It Through The Night" also became Smith's signature song.^[2]

In May 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 71 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.^[3]

Production history

Kris Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire Magazine interview with Frank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Sinatra replied, "Booze, broads, or a bible...whatever helps me make it through the night."^[4]

During his time as a struggling songwriter, Kris Kristofferson wrote and composed the song while staying with Dottie West and her husband, Bill, at their home on Shy's Hill Road in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood. When he offered Dottie West the song, she originally claimed it was "too suggestive" for her. Eventually, she would record it before the year was out, and it is included on her album Careless Hands. However, by then, several others had recorded and released versions of it, some garnering great success. Later on, West said that not recording "Help Me Make It Through The Night" when Kristofferson originally offered it to her was one of the greatest regrets of her career.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2010, eighteen years after comforting Sinéad O'Connor when she was booed at the Bob Dylan: 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, Kristofferson performed "Help Me Make It Through the Night" with her on the Irish talk show Saturday Night with Miriam.^[5]

Chart performance

Sammi Smith

Sammi Smith's recording (made in May 1970) reached number-one on the U.S. country charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. On February 20, 1971, it reached number 8 on Billboard's U.S. pop singles chart, and also enjoyed success in Canada. Adult-Contemporary stations took to the song, and it peaked at number 3 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. Additionally, it spent three weeks at number 1 on the Country chart.^[6] The song became a gold record.^{[citation needed]}

In 1998, the 1970 release of "Help Me Make It Through the Night" by Sammi Smith on Mega Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.^[7]

Weekly charts Chart (1971) Peak position Australia KMR[8] 7 Canada RPM Top Singles 4 Canada RPM Country Tracks 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[9] 19 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 8 US Billboard Easy Listening[10] 3 US Billboard Hot Country Singles[11] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[12] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1971) Rank Australia[13] 32 Canada[14] 64 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 36 US Cash Box[16] 78

Willie Nelson

In 1980, Willie Nelson covered the song. His rendition became a hit on the country music charts of both the U.S. and Canada.

Chart (1979–80)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17]	4
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1

Other charting versions

In 1971, Joe Simon hit #69 on the Hot 100 and #13 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.^{[citation needed]}

In 1972, a version by Gladys Knight & the Pips reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and was a Top 10 pop hit in the United Kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

In 1974, John Holt included the song on his album 1000 Volts of Holt. That year, his recording of the song made it into the UK Top Ten.^{[citation needed]}

In 1975, the French Canadian singer Claude Valade recorded a French version of the song, "Aide-moi à passer la nuit," produced and distributed by London Deram Records. The French-language lyrics were written by Canadian singer-songwriter Christine Charbonneau. The recording was a success and was on the charts (peaking at number 3) for more than six months.^[18]

In 2007, it was recorded for a second time in French, with Annie Blanchard recording it on the Musicor Records label, and the song made the Top 20 for 26 weeks, reaching a high of #6.^[19]

Television and film appearances

In 2013, American Idol contestant Kree Harrison sang this song during season 12 on "Songs They Wish They Had Written" week.^[20]

Parody version

In 1995, Ray Stevens recorded a comedy version of the song for his album 20 Comedy Hits.^[21]