My 100 Favorite Charted Country Songs: Why Me

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Along with my favorite charted Hot 100 songs I’m giving you my favorite songs that made the country charts. Today’s song is by someone who passed away this year, so he’ll be back on next month’s list. Meanwhile, here’s his best-known song as a singer. Why Me - Kris Kristofferson This is the guy who wrote “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down.” After finding “no way to hold my head that didn’t hurt” Kristofferson started looking for another way. Of course, in country music at the time, there were a lot of “Saturday night/Sunday morning” people (“I raise Cain on Saturday but I go to church on Sunday” is how Little Jimmy Dickens put it in his song “Country Boy”). Among them was Kristofferson’s future Highwayman compatriot, Johnny Cash. Also, Hank Snow’s son, Jimmie Rodgers Snow, was a minister. They helped Kristofferson turn his life toward God. This was the musical result. This was Kristofferson’s only #1 song as a singer. As it was released in the “Jesus music” era of the late 60s/early 70s, it also made the pop chart. It’s been covered about a hundred times (according to Second Hand Songs). We remember Kris for his acting, for his rebellious “outlaw” nature, and for his incredible gift of songwriting that could reach into the soul of his listeners…and frequently his own soul. Why Me Written by Kris Kristofferson Recorded by Kris Kristofferson From Jesus Was a Capricorn, 1972 Peak chart position: #1 (also charted #17 pop) Today’s rock song: “What in the World’s Come Over You” I’ve wasted it so: