Help Me Make It Through the Night
Kris Kristofferson & Brenda Lee Lyrics

The song "Help Me Make It Through The Night" by Kris Kristofferson & Brenda Lee is certainly one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. The lyrics paint a picture of a lonely soul in need, of someone they perceive as a friend or lover for solace, without caring about the consequences or future. With the first verse, the singer urges their partner to take off the ribbon that's been adorning their hair, shake it loose and let it fall. The tone is unmistakably sensual, and the ribbon serves as a metaphor for the borders and constraints that these two lovers must navigate past to find each other. The ribbon falls soft upon the singer's skin, just like the shadows on the walls, hinting at a night of passion that's yet to come.

In the second verse, the singer implores their lover to stay with them until the early morning light, to share their time with them to get through the night. They don't want to be alone, and they need someone to be with them in the moment without worrying about the past or future. Kristofferson captures this with the line, "yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow's out of sight". At the same time, the singer doesn't care about who's right or wrong or if they don't understand one another. The emotions are raw and urgent, as evidenced by the plea, "Lord, tonight, I need a friend."