Songwriters Don Robertson and Hal Blair wrote a song titled “Please Help Me, I’m Falling” back in 1960, and the crystal-clear tenor voice of Hank Locklin first recorded it. He was one of the most prominent figures of that time, helping shape the Nashville sound, and this track was part of that legacy.
This was the second of his six career number-one hits and his most successful recording. It dominated the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 14 weeks and spent nine months on the country chart. It even crossed over to the Hot 100 and peaked at number 8.
Meaning Behind the Song
This track, produced by Chet Atkins, explores the themes of forbidden love and the moral struggle that comes with it: Should he give in to temptation and let himself fall for her despite knowing it’s wrong? Or should he do what’s right and keep all his feelings in?
In the opening line, the narrator pleads for mental fortitude to restrain himself from walking through the door of temptation. His desperation becomes more evident in the next verse as he begs her to turn away from him and help him not fall in love with her because the reality is that he already belongs to another person. And even though that person’s arms have grown cold, he promised forever. And it’s a promise that can never be broken, no matter what.
He then sings of his pain, saying, “I can never be free, dear .” In the chorus, the narrator’s awareness of the consequences of his actions is highlighted as he says that falling for her would be a sin. He’s trapped in a very tough and vulnerable situation.
For You
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And then, for the last time, he sings of his battle, “For I mustn’t want you / But, darling, I do / Please help me, I’m falling / In love with you.”
Up until the end, he struggles between his desire and doing what is right. This speaks to a universal human experience: We all somehow get to this junction where we must make that difficult choice.
While many have covered this song, Locklin’s earnest and sincere delivery of the lyrics hits differently. That is, it will undoubtedly make you feel that weight of choosing even more.
Listen to Hank Locklin’s touching performance of “Please Help Me, I’m Falling” in the video below.
