<P> During his time as a struggling songwriter, Kristofferson wrote the song while staying with Dottie West and her husband, Bill, at their home on Shy's Hill Road in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood . When he offered Dottie the song, she originally claimed it was "too suggestive" for her . Eventually, she would record it before the year was out, and it is included on her album Careless Hands . However, by then, several others had recorded and released versions of it, some garnering great success . Later on, West said that not recording it when it was originally offered to her was one of the greatest regrets of her career . </P> <P> Kristofferson's original lyrics speak of a man's yearning for sexual intimacy . They were controversial in 1971 when the song was covered by a woman: 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 . </P> <P> Sammi Smith's recording reached number - one on the U.S. country charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Country Music Female performance . On February 20, 1971, it reached number 8 on Billboard's U.S. pop singles chart, and also enjoyed success in Canada . Adult - Contemporary stations took to the song, and it peaked at number 3 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart . Additionally, it spent three weeks at number 1 on the Country chart . The song became a gold record . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <H3> Weekly charts (edit) </H3> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1971) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia KMR </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada RPM Top Singles </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada RPM Country Tracks </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Billboard Easy Listening </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Billboard Hot Country Singles </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Cash Box Top 100 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <H3> Year - end charts (edit) </H3> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1971) </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Australia </Td> <Td> 32 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada </Td> <Td> 64 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> 36 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Cash Box </Td> <Td> 78 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

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