Watch Willie Nelson’s Son Perform a Stunning Acoustic Cover of a Kris Kristofferson Classic

Lukas Nelson followed in his father’s footsteps in more ways than one. Like Willie Nelson, he is a versatile artist who can write songs just as easily as he can make someone else’s song his own. For instance, he regularly sings his father’s songs and has been known to perform other country classics. You can see him delivering a stunning cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” below.

Kristofferson and Willie Nelson have been friends and collaborators for years. As a result, Lukas grew up seeing the “Me and Bobby McGee” songwriter in his home and on the road. In a social media post, he revealed that Kristofferson pushed him to follow in his father’s footsteps. “When I was young, Kris heard a song I wrote and said, ‘You’re gonna be a songwriter’ and I said, ‘I don’t know.’ Then, he told me, ‘You don’t have a choice!’” Nelson wrote. “Thanks for the inspiration, Kris! Love you,” he concluded.

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Knowing that makes seeing him cover Kristofferson’s songs a little more special. In the video above, Lukas Nelson sits in front of what appears to be a hotel room window with a stunning mountain view with his acoustic guitar and performs the Kristofferson classic.

Lukas Nelson Chose a Timeless Kris Kristofferson Tune

Lukas Nelson is far from the first person to cover “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” Over the years, several artists including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, Gladys Knight, and many more have put their stamp on the song.

According to Songfacts, Kris Kristofferson got the inspiration for the song’s title from a Frank Sinatra interview in Esquire. In the interview, he said, “I’m for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers, or a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.”

Kristofferson had the title “Help Me Make It Through the Night” in his head for years. He was working as a helicopter pilot, flying between Louisiana and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. One night, while waiting to make a run, he was sitting in his helicopter, strumming his guitar, and the rest of the song came to him. He recorded the song and included it on his 1970 debut album Kristofferson.

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