Help Me Make It Through the Night
Elvis Presley Lyrics


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

Come and lay down by my side
'Til 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 won't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
'Cause tonight, I need a friend

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 won't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
'Cause tonight, I need a friend

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 want to be alone
Help me make it through the night

Overall Meaning

The song, Help Me Make It Through the Night by Elvis Presley, speaks to the longing of a man for female companionship, for someone to keep him company through the night. The singer calls on his lover to take off the ribbon from her hair and shake it loose, perhaps a symbolic act of letting go of societal expectations or inhibitions. The ribbon then lays soft upon his skin, like the shadows on the wall. He invites her to lay down by his side till the early morning light, seeking comfort and intimacy in her presence.


The lyrics highlight a sense of desperation and loneliness in the singer's plea for help making it through the night. He acknowledges the futility of trying to understand or assign blame, and instead chooses to live in the moment, blocking out thoughts of the uncertain future ahead. He recognizes that yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow is out of sight, and so the present moment, and the comfort of his lover's presence, is all he has to cling onto. The use of the word 'friend' in the final line of the chorus stands out, as if the singer is seeking companionship more than anything else.


Line by Line Meaning

Take the ribbon from your hair
Take off your adornments, let your hair down


Shake it loose and let it fall
Loosen up and be carefree


Layin' soft upon my skin
Intimacy and comfort is what I yearn for


Like the shadows on the wall
In the darkness, we share a love that is pure


Come and lay down by my side
Be here with me and let's enjoy each other's presence


Till the early mornin' light
Stay with me until the new day begins


All I'm takin' is your time
I only ask for your attention and nothing else


Help me make it through the night
Be my support system and help me overcome my struggles


I don't care who's right or wrong
I don't want to argue, I just want to be in your company


I don't try to understand
I don't need all the answers or reasons


Let the devil take tomorrow
Leave the future up to fate


Lord tonight I need a friend
Tonight, I need you to be there for me


Yesterday is dead and gone
We can't change the past, so let it go


And tomorrow's out of sight
We can't predict the future, so let's focus on the present


And it's sad to be alone
Being alone can be difficult and lonely




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kris Kristofferson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@bradhuskers

@@blackmore4
You might need to reevaluate your education then.
"Until it's time for you to " is a prime example of "SINGING 101'
IT doesn't get any better.
Your problem is that you think his singing should always be the raw, gritty soul of 68- 69.
WRONG.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Great singing has NOTHING to do with one style.
Elvis's chameleon voice changed multiple times in his very short career and life.
Brilliant singing is literally on full display here, YET because of your "simple mind" you have ZERO clue.
Elvis couldn't have done justice to "help me make it through the night" a couple years earlier because he had a rougher hard edge THAT was perfert for his gritty soulful sound at American studio.
"Always on my mind" showcaes his Brilliant singing, with a tender higher register throughout.
Elvis of 54-55-56, etc....was a young punk rocker. His classic recordings back then were REVELATORY.
There were some songs where elvis wasn't 100%, HOWEVER, they were few and far between.
If you had an ounce of intelligence, you'd understand that fact.
And, by the way? I've studied this subject longer than you've been alive.
You're only embarrassing yourself further.



@bradhuskers

@@blackmore4
LMFAO
You lack intelligence by your comments.
The 1956 studio recording of "Heartbreak hotel" is pure perfection, as noted by keith richards.
Elvis would sing it again later live, but nothing comes anywhere near that perfect rock n roll recording.
Just like "suspicion" in 1964. Or "if I can dream" 68.
Or the critically acclaimed "you'll never walk alone" 1966.
Or "tomorrow is a long time" 1966.
These are critically acclaimed recordings that elvis presley did at a certain time in his career.
1971's. "Until it's time for you to go", "always on my mind" "green green grass of home" fron 1975, are perfect recordings.
His live "My way" is perfect singing. Your comments reveal that you don't understand 'singing" or great "singing" at all.
You seem to think that great singing is what elvis did in 68, 69, 70, etc......and that is great singing, HOWEVER. Thats ONLY ONE example of his style at that point and time. Every professional singer knows that on a tender song like " always on my mind" you don't use your "rock" or soul voice, unless you are a horrible singer.
Same with "help me make it through the night" and "until it's time for you to go" etc..
You must be very poorly educated to not understand this
You had NO IDEA about the different ways elvis presley intrrpreted lyrics.
And that's why you've come across as ignorant to me.
Elvis's sweet falsetto is effortless on many of his critically acclaimed recordings. ie....."crying in the chapel" ""doin the best that I can", tomorrow is a long time" these are examples of Brilliant singing, AND totally different from his 69-70, Hard edge grit and soul.
Again, you have absolutely no idea whatsoever, about the multi-dimensional vocals of elvis presley. His ever changing tone and depth. His renarkably diverse recordings.
The songs you think are not sung well? Are actually perfect recordings.
Towards the end, due to his increasing drug use, he did have miscues. But I would say that they were few and far between.
ALL artists and groups put out poor records from time to time. That's a fact. But the majority of elvis's recordings, were top notch.
Go sit down.
You've been schooled.
Drop off your tuition in my PayPal account on the way out the door.



@user-ip9yu7lp1q

help me make it through the night

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

Come and lay down by my side
Till the early morning light
All I'm takin' is your time.
Help me make it through the night.
I don't care who's right or wrong,
I don't try to understand.

Let the devil take tomorrow.
Lord, tonight I need a friend.
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.

Lord, it's bad to be alone.
Help me make it through the night.



All comments from YouTube:

@zoliviol

Best version by far. Not surprisingly.

@howdy.iamstan

Kris Kristofferson is one of the best songwriters of all time! Elvis nailed it, he really felt the essence of these words written and brought it to his performance

@renatoagx

Check out Sammi Smith's version. It is worth it. It's almost as good.

@AloizioAndrade-fy1ee

Uma das minhas canções preferidas de todo o repertório do REI !!!

@maureenfey718

What a wonderful singer of a beautiful song. Lovely Elvis. Can’t do without his music, daily.

@betoshas16491

elvis is the true king

@laura835

WOW!

@myelvischannel1992

Getting my box set today can't wait.

@ashwinvincent0000

He is one and only king in music 🎶 🎵 ❤.....We miss you...Elvis

@greta9599

Oh, how I miss this wonderful man! 😥😥

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