Help Me Make It Through the Night

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"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a country music ballad composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson.

It was also recorded in 1971 by country singer Sammi Smith. Her version ranks among the most successful country singles of all time in terms of sales, popularity and radio airplay. Many other American singers would record the song throughout the 1970s and early 1980s: the most successful version after Smith's was recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1972.

Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, has also covered this song as a duet, the recording is found on the 2006 compilation, Duets, released by Sony BMG. Johnny Cash inserts 'June' before the line tonight I need a friend as a sign of affection to his wife.

Kristofferson's original lyrics speak of a man's yearning for sexual intimacy, yet they were completely reworked for a female singer. Smith's version proved controversial in 1971 when she sang the following lines: I don't care what's right or wrong / I don't try to understand / Let the devil take tomorrow / Lord, tonight I need a friend.

Sammi Smith's recording nevertheless went to No.1 on the U.S. country charts. On February 20, 1971 it reached No.8 on Billboard's U.S. pop singles chart, and also enjoyed success in Canada, Great Britain and Germany.

In 1990, country novelty musician Ray Stevens produced a parody of the song, not only playing the song to a more-upbeat tempo but interspersing each line with mocking jokes of those lines (ie. the first line, "Take the ribbon from your hair," is followed by a ripping sound followed by a woman yelling).