"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," "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)." "Why Me" was recorded by Kristofferson in 1972, and features backing vocals by soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin. It was included on the album, Jesus Was a Capricorn and, in 1973, the song became the biggest hit of his career. (More from Wikipedia)
"Why me Lord what have I ever done / To deserve even one of the pleasures I've known / Tell me, Lord, what did I ever do / That was worth lovin' you or the kindness you've shown / (chorus) Lord help me, Jesus, I've wasted it so / Help me Jesus I know what I am / But now that I know that I've needed you so / Help me, Jesus, my soul's in your hand".
I cannot remember ever hearing such heartfelt Christian lyrics coming from a mainstream popular musician than these from Kris Kristofferson. "Why Me" was released in April 1973 and featured background vocals from Rita Coolidge (whom he would shortly marry) and a future country star, Larry Gatlin. "Why Me" (also known as "Why Me, Lord?") is often regarded as the biggest gospel song of the 1970's.
The unusual charting history of "Why Me" is related by Wikipedia: "'Why Me' was [Kris] 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, to that time, one of the longer runs (19 weeks) in the top 40 and the most chart reversals (6) in one run on the Hot 100. As a result, ironically, the song managed to be ranked as the second most popular Hot 100 single of 1973."
Kris Kristofferson is probably better known as a songwriter – such as Janis Joplin's posthumous hit song, "Me and Bobby McGee", plus "For the Good Times" (a hit by Ray Price, among others), "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" (recorded by Johnny Cash) and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" (Sammi Smith's version being the most successful), which were all #1 hits on one Billboard or Canadian chart or other – or as an actor in dozens of films, such as Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, A Star Is Born, the Blade films, and The Motel Life. He has a rough-and-tumble reputation as a hard-liver, and in part, that fuels his interest in spiritual matters. Jesus has clearly been on his mind over the years; his album names include Jesus Was a Capricorn (simply an observation that Christmas Day falls within that astrological sign).
"Why Me" was recorded by many others, among them Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, George Jones, David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard, and Cliff Richard.
(July 2014)
