"Help Me" is a song written by
Larry Gatlin
Larry Wayne Gatlin (born May 2, 1948) is an American country and Southern gospel singer and songwriter. As part of a trio with his younger brothers Steve and Rudy, he achieved considerable success within the country music genre, performing on 3 ...
. A
country gospel
Christian country music (sometimes marketed as country gospel, gospel country, positive country or inspirational country) is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of t ...
song, the lyrics tell the story of a world-weary and tired man pleading for guidance and reassurance from
God
In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...
. Gatlin performed the song at the funerals of both
June Carter
June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is the second of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the third of five months to have a length of less than 31 days. June contains the summer solstice in t ...
and
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
and dedicates the song to them during every performance.
The song became most famous in a version by
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
. In 1974, Presley released the song as part of a
double A-sided
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
single with "
If You Talk in Your Sleep."
"Help Me" became the side promoted to country radio, and the song reached No. 6 on the
''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart on the week of August 10, 1974.
("If You Talk in Your Sleep" reached No. 17 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, also during the summer of 1974.)
Previously, "Help Me" was recorded by:
*
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is a retired American singer, songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are "Me and Bobby McGee", " For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Nig ...
in 1972, the first recording of the song, on his album ''
Jesus Was a Capricorn
''Jesus Was a Capricorn'' is the fourth album by Kris Kristofferson, released in 1972 on Monument Records. The album cover pictures Kristofferson and his soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge. "Why Me" reached #1 on the Country singles charts.
Recording ...
'' and subsequently released as the B-side to the single "
Why Me Why Me or Why Me? may refer to:
Music
* Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song), "Why Me" (Kris Kristofferson song), 1973
* Why Me (Styx song), "Why Me" (Styx song), 1979
* Why Me? (Irene Cara song), "Why Me?" (Irene Cara song), 1983
* Why Me? (Linda Mart ...
".
*
Ray Price, on his 1973 album ''She's Got to Be a Saint''.
*
Connie Smith
Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...
, on her 1973 album ''
God Is Abundant
''God Is Abundant'' is the twenty-first solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in November 1973 on Columbia Records and contained 11 tracks. The project was a collection of gospel recordings, chosen by Smith he ...
''.
*
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
, on his 1973 album ''
The Gospel Road''.
*
London Parris and the Apostles, on the 1973 album ''Why Me?''.
Johnny Cash versions
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
covered the song on his 1973 album ''
The Gospel Road'' and on the posthumous 2006 album ''
American V: A Hundred Highways''. The latter version had a
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
shot for it.
Charts
Elvis Presley version
: *
As "Help Me" / "If You Talk in Your Sleep"
References
External links
Kris Kristofferson – Why Me / Help Meat Discogs
Elvis Presley – If You Talk In Your Sleep / Help Meat Discogs
{{authority control
1972 songs
1973 singles
1974 singles
Kris Kristofferson songs
Connie Smith songs
Johnny Cash songs
Elvis Presley songs
RCA Records singles
Songs written by Larry Gatlin