<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Help Me Make It Through The Night" (1971) </Td> <Td> "I've Got to Have You" (1972) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Help Me Make It Through The Night" (1971) </Td> <Td> "I've Got to Have You" (1972) </Td> </Tr> <P> "Help Me Make It Through The Night" is a country music ballad written and composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson . It was covered later in 1970 by Sammi Smith, on the album Help Me Make It Through the Night . Smith's recording of the song remains the most commercially successful and most well - known version in the United States . Her recording ranks among the most successful country singles of all time in terms of sales, popularity, and radio airplay . It topped the country singles chart, and was also a crossover hit, reaching number eight on the U.S. pop singles chart . "Help Me Make It Through The Night" also became Smith's signature song . </P> <P> Inspired by Smith's success with the song, numerous other artists covered it soon thereafter, including Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Willie Nelson . </P>

Original artist who sang help me make it through the night