Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song)
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"Why Me" is an American country and gospel song written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson.
Song history
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," "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and many other songs. He had a hit of his own as well, with "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)."
In 1973, he had his biggest hit of his career with "Why Me." 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]
Wrote Malone, "'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 also 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."[2]
"Why Me" was recorded in 1972, and features backing vocals by soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin.
Successes
"Why Me" was Kristofferson's lone major country hit as a solo recording artist, reaching No. 1 of Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in July 1973. The song, despite peaking only at No. 16 of the Billboard Hot 100, had one of the longer runs (19 weeks) in the Top 40 to that time.[3]
"Why Me" was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.[4]
Elvis Presley incorporated the song, titled as "Why Me Lord", into his live shows beginning in January 1974 up until his last concert tour. It was first released on the live album, Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis in June 1974. The recording is from his March 20, 1974 concert in Memphis, Tennessee. He often introduced the song for J.D. Sumner to sing "one of his favorite songs." Sumner would sing the verses and Elvis would join on the chorus along with the back-up singers. He also recorded the other side of the single, "Help Me", written by Larry Gatlin in December 1973 and which remained part of his live shows as well. [5]
Succession
References
- ^ Malone, Bill, "Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection" (booklet included with Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection 4-disc set). Smithsonian Institution, 1990, p. 66-67.
- ^ ibid.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel, "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits," 8th ed. Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 2004.
- ^ http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp
- ^ Elvis: A Life In Music by Ernst Jorgensen
See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.
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