Coolidge's early career was as a backing vocalist, for artists such as Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Leon Russell. Her performance of "Superstar" on the Cocker/Russell Mad Dogs and Englishmen album helped gain her attention. She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Leon Russell to write a song of the same name for her. It was during this time that she met Kris Kristofferson; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums which sold well, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1974 for From the Bottle to the Bottom, and in 1976 for Lover Please.
In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of Walela, a Native American music trio, that also includes Coolidge's sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released albums in 1997 and 2000. Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee.
Help me make it through the Night
Rita Coolidge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics of Rita Coolidge's "Help me make it through the Night" are a plea from a lonely heart to a lover. The singer is asking the person they love to stay with them for the night, to let go of their inhibitions and spend the night with them, just to make it through the night. The opening lines, "Take the ribbon from your hair, Shake it loose and let it fall" suggest that the singer is asking the person they love to let go of any societal norms or expectations, to let themselves be free and vulnerable for the night. The ribbon, a symbol of propriety and modesty, is to be let down, to symbolize the shedding of the societal expectations and norms.
"Come and lay down by my side, Till the early mornin' light" suggests that the singer is seeking solace in the arms of their lover for the night, just to make it through. The line "All I'm takin' is your time, Help me make it through the night" shows how much the singer values and needs their lover's presence. They are not asking for anything else, just the comfort of their lover's warmth.
The lines "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" highlight the singer's desperation. They do not care about anything else than their lover being there with them at that moment. They are not bothered about the future and the uncertainty that lies ahead. They seek comfort in their lover's embrace for the night.
In the final lines, "Yesterday is dead and gone, And tomorrow's out of sight, And it's sad to be alone," the singer acknowledges the fleeting nature of time and the painful loneliness that follows when one has nowhere to turn. They know that the past cannot be changed and the future is uncertain. But for that one night, they just want to be close to their lover, to make it through the night.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the ribbon from your hair
Remove the decorative ribbon which adorns your hair.
Shake it loose and let it fall
Release the ribbon so it loosens and falls down freely.
Layin' soft upon my skin
The ribbon falls onto my skin gently creating a soft sensation.
Like the shadows on the wall
Just like how the shadows on the wall appear and disappear subtly, the ribbon also has the same effect on me.
Come and lay down by my side
Come closer to me and rest by my side.
Til the early mornin' light
Stay with me till the morning when the sun rises.
All I'm takin' is your time
I don't need anything from you except for your time and presence.
Help me make it through the night
Assist me in overcoming the darkness that looms over me.
I don't care who's right or wrong
I am not bothered about who is correct or incorrect.
I don't try to understand
I am not attempting to comprehend the situation.
Let the devil take tomorrow
I don't want to worry about or concern myself with what's going to happen in the future.
Lord tonight I need a friend
At this moment, I require a companion to rely on.
Yesterday is dead and gone
The past is gone and can't be changed.
And tomorrow's out of sight
The future is uncertain and unpredictable.
And it's sad to be alone
It is a terrible feeling to be solitary.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@margaretgaskell4958
love this song it is sad as they parted due to his drinking ....but this is with much Felling as she still Loved him God Bless ...🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😒😒💔💔
Help Me Make It Through the Night ...written by Chris
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 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 sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
Lord, it's sad to be alone
@LucioRozendo
Ajude-me a Atravessar a Noite
Pegue a fita de seu cabelo, agite-a e deixe-a cair
Deitando-a suave sobre a minha pele
Como as sombras na parede
Venha e deite ao meu lado até a luz da manhã
Tudo o que eu quero é o seu tempo
Ajude-me a atravessar a noite
Eu não me importo o que é certo ou errado, nem vou tentar entender
Deixe o diabo pegar amanhã
Senhor, esta noite eu preciso de um amigo
Ontem está morto e se foi e o amanhã está fora de vista
E é triste estar sozinho
Ajude-me a atravessar a noite
Eu não me importo o que é certo ou errado (sim, eu não me importo!)
Nem vou tentar entender
Deixe o diabo pegar amanhã
Senhor, esta noite eu preciso de um amigo
Ontem está morto e se foi e o amanhã está fora de vista
Senhor, é ruim ficar sozinho
Ajude-me a atravessar a noite
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 what'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
I don't care what's right or wrong (yes, I do!)
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
Lord, it's bad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
@OntheLAMRomans8
She has an absolutely beautiful voice.
If only Kris hadn't broken 💔 her heart. 😢
@ruthwoodin550
This is one of the songs I heard in 1972 that made me want to find someone to help me make it through the night.. 50 years later I'm still waiting. Classic songs never disappear.
@markclifford1857
Hello 👋 Ruth. How are you doing? Hope you are fine
@henrykent7744
D❤2
@rexchiquine6049
That is so sad Ruth,,,
@Incredible14U
FN Rifle helped me make it through the nite - 7.62mm bullet...
@shereekendall1003
Ruth there is a man here asking how you are...his name is Mark Clifford...quickly answer him...and you may not have to wait any longer...i love lovestories😊
@carolebenson4712
A beautiful song sung by two people with beautiful voices. I have listened to this song so many times and never get tired of hearing it sung by Rita and Kris.
@nataliaskrypnyk5699
Agree 100%
@cormacdavid7355
Hello Carole 👋 How are you? So sorry for the infringe on your
privacy. Beautiful song