About The Song
In an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, given while Ray’s record was breaking out, Kristofferson talked about the development of “For the Good Times” during his drive down to the Gulf. He devised the melody first, believing it to be one of the best he had ever come up with. Kris couldn’t wait to get to a guitar. He wondered what the chords were and if he could even play it. Continuing his drive, he assembled a portion of the lyrics, but it was sometime later before he finished the song.
An early version of “For the Good Times” was issued by Bill Nash on the “Smash” label in 1968, but it did not chart. Kristofferson’s own recording appeared on his self-titled debut album in April, 1970. Ray Pennington, a song promoter for Buckhorn Music (the publishing company Kris was writing for), thought “For the Good Times” might do well for Ray Price, who was touring at the time. For assistance in locating him, Pennington contacted Fred Foster at Monument Records who prepared a demo of the song, got hold of a copy of Price’s itinerary and found out that he was appearing at the Stardust Club in Odessa, Texas which was owned by an old friend of his. The Stardust had been one of Price’s favorite places to perform since the beginning of his career back in the early 1950s, and he continued to frequently play there even after reaching stardom.
When the demo on “For the Good Times” arrived, Price listened to it between shows and immediately decided to record the song just as soon as he got back to Nashville. Ray did just that, in Columbia Studio “A” on March 16, 1970. As was usually the case, he nailed it on the very first take with all the musicians present (in this case, a full orchestra). Other than a harmony line in the chorus, very little overdubbing was needed. Ray much preferred recording that way, as did most of the veteran hit-makers in Nashville at that time.
Initially, Price’s label (Columbia) released “For the Good Times” as the “B” side of “Grazin’ in Greener Pastures,” despite Ray’s contention that “For the Good Times” would be the hit. It wasn’t until pop singer Wayne Newton also recorded “For the Good Times” that the label changed its emphasis and began promoting Price’s version in earnest, which ended up selling a sensational 11 million copies.
In March of 1971, Price won his only Grammy award for the tune. That same year, the Academy of Country Music cited “For the Good Times” as “Song of the Year” and “Single Record of the Year.” Additionally, the “For the Good Times” LP earned “Album of the Year” honors.
Video
Lyrics
Don’t look so sad
I know it’s over
But life goes on and this old world
Will keep on turning
Let’s just be glad we had some time
To spend together
There’s no need to watch the bridges
That we’re burning
Lay your head
Upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Close to mine
Hear the whisper of the raindrops
Blowing soft against the window
And make-believe you love me one more time
For the good times
I’ll get along
You’ll find another
And I’ll be here
If you should find you ever need me
Don’t say a word
About tomorrow or forever
There’ll be time enough for sadness
When you leave me
Lay your head
Upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Close to mine
Hear the whisper of the raindrops
Blowing soft against the window
And make-believe you love me one more time
For the good times
