“Why Me Lord”: The Iconic Duet  of Johnny Cash and Ray Charles 

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In 2010, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles surprised their fans when they put out one of their unreleased duet of Kris Kristofferson’s hit song “Why Me Lord” after nearly 30 years since its recording making it pretty iconic.

In 1981, Johnny sent a letter to Ray asking him if he could release the song as a single on CBS on an equal royalty share basis. With this letter revealed to the public, many speculated that the song should have been released in 1981. 

RELATED: Kris Kristofferson and Other Artists Praise God Wonderfully with “Why Me Lord”

The song was part of Ray Charles’s 2010 album, which also contained all ten previously unreleased songs, including his version of “Why Me Lord” with Cash. 

The song is simply about a man grateful to God for the many blessings in life, acknowledging His love, His sacrifices, and His tireless understanding. 

A number of country singers, including the legendary Connie Smith, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley, and George Jones, have also released their own versions of the song. 

Johnny Cash and Ray Charles’s versions, in particular, caused massive headlines because the song was released 30 years after their initial recording – which reasons remain unclear to this day. 

Johnny Cash and Ray Charles Version 

Compared to the original, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles’s version has a jazzy vibe. The blending of their vocals is also worth noting, considering Ray has a Baritone voice that is complemented by Johnny’s deep yet bass-tone voice. 

Aside from that, since Johnny and Ray’s version was released in 2010, their tune has a modern twist, compared to Kris’s version, which still has that classic country vibe. Because of that, it immediately became a hit among listeners, making it one of Johnny and Ray’s greatest hits. 

Music and books

Shop Johnny Cash

• The Essential Johnny CashVinylWith “I Walk the Line” and “Big River”See it on Amazon →
• At Folsom PrisonVinylHis 1968 live album, recorded at Folsom State PrisonSee it on Amazon →
• Cash: The AutobiographyBookHis autobiographySee it on Amazon →

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Although it took so long for the song to be released, listeners couldn’t ask for more, as it was all worth the wait. 

So if you haven’t checked it out yet, you can watch Johnny Cash and Ray Charles’s version of “Why Me Lord” below. 

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