Ten Favorite Country Who-What-Why Questions: Why Me (#10)

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After ten favorite rock songs that have a who, what, or why question in the title it's time to swap genres and themes. Now it's country music's turn to ask the who/what/why questions in life -- okay, in song. I'm doing this one first because I'll be shamed with the #10 rock song. I apologize for that one in advance. Meanwhile, here's the first country who-what-why question song. #10: Why Me - Kris Kristofferson Everyone knows Kris Kristofferson. He has acted (opposite Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born). He's been mentioned in films (Cybill Shepherd's character in Taxi Driver quotes Kristofferson's "The Pilgrim Chapter 33" ["he's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction"]). And, of course, he wrote one of the most iconic songs in rock and roll history: "Me and Bobby McGee." And oh, the stories about this Hall of Famer are legendary. A helicopter pilot in the Army, there's a story about him landing a chopper on Johnny Cash's sprawling Hendersonville, Tennessee estate grounds in order to pitch the song "Sunday Morning Coming Down" to him after his boss at the studio prohibited Kristofferson (who was a janitor at the studio) from pitching songs while working. Amid all of those wild stories and wilder songs came this gospel song, so out of character that you have to wonder if someone else didn't write it instead and let Kristofferson stick his name on it. Written at a very down point in his life (which, ironically, came right on the heels of the successes he'd had with "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down"), Kristofferson was inspired to write it after attending a service by Reverend Jimmie Snow (who for years hosted the program Grand Ole Gospel after the Friday Night Opry, and is the son of legendary country singer Hank Snow). With the help of several friends who were noted Christians, such as Larry Gatlin and Johnny Cash, Kristofferson got his head screwed on straight at the time. Of course, Kristofferson was a long-haired, bearded guy back then who looked more like a rock singer than a country singer, so he didn't get a lot of airplay in the still-conservative country world. And, as with so many great songwriters, he can't sing for doo-doo. Yet his gravely voice is perfect for this song about a man who is hanging by a thread....and the thread is starting to break. Why Me (also known as "Why Me, Lord") Written by Kris Kristofferson Recorded by Kris Kristofferson From Jesus Was a Capricorn, 1972 Here's a version with Kris and Willie, including Kris explaining the backstory of the song: