Deana Kay Carter (born January 4, 1966 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) is an … Read Full Bio ↴Deana Kay Carter (born January 4, 1966 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) is an American singer-songwriter who records country music.

She is the daughter of Fred Carter, Jr. She is known for performing barefoot, saying that it helps her relax enough to sing.

Award-winning singer/songwriter/performer Deana Carter unveils The Chain, her fifth studio record October 9th on Vanguard Records.

Each of the 12 songs on The Chain has a special importance to Deana, who personally chose material that had a great impact on her early life. She took the same care in recruiting collaborators for the project, assembling a group of musicians who influenced her as an artist -- none more greatly than her father, legendary session player Fred Carter, Jr, who performs throughout the album. “Ever since I knew that music was going to be my life’s path, I’ve wanted to pay tribute to my dad and to the artists who were so good to me and my family. The camaraderie between them, and the way they took our family and made it part of their families, was so unique that I wanted to recapture it for a little while,” states Deana.

The Chain features duets with Deana and some of country music’s royalty: Kris Kristofferson (Help Me Make It Through The Night), Dolly Parton (Love Is Like A Butterfly), Jessi Colter (I’m Not Lisa), Willie Nelson (On The Road Again), George Jones (He Thinks I Still Care) and John Anderson (Swingin’). The CD also includes two of music’s rising stars, Shooter Jennings on “Good Hearted Woman”, the song made famous by his father, the great Waylon Jennings, and Harper Simon on “The Boxer,” a nod to his dad, Paul Simon who plays guitar on this track. The Chain also features stunning solo recordings of Deana performing such classics as “Lay Lady Lay”, “The Weight”, “Crying” and “Old Man”.

Produced and arranged by Deana Carter, The Chain is a musical feast and celebration of one’s past and influences.
A multi-platinum recording artist, Deana Carter burst into the music scene with the blockbuster album Did I Shave My Legs for This? (1996) that produced four No. 1 hit singles. Her additional releases included Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, Father Christmas, I’m Just A Girl, Greatest Hits and The Story Of My Life. She has performed on countless television shows and network specials and yielded a Golden Globe and Grammy nomination for the song Once Upon A December from the animated film Anastasia.
Deana is based in Los Angeles where she resides with her son, Gray Hayes. She is a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation.

Help Me Make It Through the Night
Deana Carter Lyrics

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Take the ribbon from my hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Layin' soft upon your skin
Like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side
Till the early mornin' light
All I'm takin' is your time

Help me make it through the night

I don't care what's right or wrong
I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
'Cause tonight I need a friend

But yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night

I don't care what's right or wrong
I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
'Cause tonight I need a friend

'Cause yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night

I don't wanna be alone
Help me make it through the night

Overall Meaning

Deana Carter's song "Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a classic country ballad that speaks to the universal desire for companionship and comfort. Set against a backdrop of shadows on the wall and soft ribbon against skin, the lyrics express a deep longing for someone to help make it through the night. The singer is willing to cast aside notions of right and wrong, and is not concerned with the future; all that matters is the present moment and having someone to share it with. The repeated chorus emphasizes this need for companionship and the fear of being alone.

The lyrics also touch upon themes of mortality and the transience of life. The line "yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow's out of sight" suggests that the present moment is all we have, and that we should not waste it alone. The mention of the devil taking tomorrow is a nod to the idea that life is uncertain and that we cannot control everything. In this context, having someone by our side to help us make it through the night takes on even greater importance.

Overall, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" is a poignant and heartfelt plea for companionship and comfort in the face of life's uncertainties.

Line by Line Meaning

Take the ribbon from my hair
Remove the adornment on my hair

Shake it loose and let it fall
Let it fall freely and disheveled

Layin' soft upon your skin
Softly caressing your skin

Like the shadows on the wall
Just like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side
Join me in bed

Till the early mornin' light
Until the sun rises

All I'm takin' is your time
I just want your company

Help me make it through the night
Stay with me until morning

I don't care what's right or wrong
I have no concern for morality

I don't try to understand
I don't seek to comprehend