For the Good Times (song)
"For the Good Times" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson, first recorded by singer Bill Nash in 1968 before appearing on Kristofferson's own debut album in June 1970. After a recording by Ray Price became a #1 hit single in June of that year, the song established Kristofferson as one of country and popular music's top songwriters while giving Price his first chart-topping country and western song in 11 years.[1]
"For the Good Times"
"We Had All The Good Things Going"
1968
"Grazin' in Greener Pastures"
June 1970
March 1970
3:47
"For the Good Times" continued to be recorded by a number of artists in subsequent years, to popular success. It became a staple of soul singer Al Green's concert repertoire in the 1970s,[2] also featuring as a studio recording on his 1972 album I'm Still in Love with You.[3] A version by Perry Como spent 27 weeks on the UK Singles Chart peaking at #7 in August 1973 and spent 13 weeks on the Irish Singles Chart, peaking at #1 for 2 weeks in November 1973.[4][5]
Composition[edit]
Kristofferson wrote most of the song in 1968 while on a work-related road trip from Nashville to the Gulf of Mexico.[1] It recounts the end of a love affair, based on a real life experience of his,[6] in a manner that popular music scholar Steve Sullivan said "conveys sadness, acceptance, and longing".[1]
An early recording of the song was by Bill Nash on Smash Records in 1968.[7] Kristofferson's own recording appeared on self-titled debut album in April 1970.[8]