Help Me Make It Through the Night
Henry Mancini Doc Severinsen with Orchestra and Chorus 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
Till the early mornin' 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

Overall Meaning

"Help Me Make It Through The Night" by Henry Mancini Doc Severinsen with Orchestra and Chorus is a song that portrays a man who is seeking comfort and companionship in the night. He asks the woman in his life to take the ribbon from her hair, shake it loose, and let it fall so that it can lay soft upon his skin, like the shadows on the wall. He wants her to come and lay down beside him until the early morning light. He is not asking for anything else except her time, and he needs her to help him make it through the night. The man does not care who is right or wrong, nor does he try to understand. He just wants someone to be there for him and doesn't mind if it's a friend or someone else. He knows that yesterday is gone, tomorrow is out of sight, and it's hard to be alone.


The song's meaning is straightforward: it's about a person who is asking for someone's companionship in the night, and this companionship can make the night easier to bear. It's a song about the simple human need for companionship and intimacy. The melody of the song is melancholic and reflects the emotion of the lyrics. The song's slow pace and soft instrumental accompaniment enhance the sad and somber nature of the lyrics. The use of the metaphor of the shadows on the wall is powerful, as it represents the fleeting nature of life and the fickleness of memories.


Line by Line Meaning

Take the ribbon from your hair
Remove the ribbon from your hair


Shake it loose and let it fall
Lose the ribbon and let your hair flow down


Layin' soft upon my skin
Your hair feels gentle on my skin


Like the shadows on the wall
The shadows from your hair fall on the wall


Come and lay down by my side
Come lie beside me


Till the early mornin' light
Stay with me till the morning light


All I'm takin' is your time
I'm not demanding anything else from you except your time


Help me make it through the night
Stay with me and help me get through the night


I don't care who's right or wrong
I don't care about being right or wrong


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


Let the devil take tomorrow
I don't care about tomorrow


Lord tonight I need a friend
I need someone to be with me tonight


Yesterday is dead and gone
The past is over


And tomorrow's out of sight
The future is out of sight


And it's sad to be alone
Being alone is melancholy




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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