You Know These Songs. You Just Didn't Know Kris Kristofferson Wrote Them.

Kris Kristofferson was the kind of artist who could write a song so good, other legends would snatch it up, make it a smash, and somehow, it'd still be his song. The man released 18 albums, starred in movies, and penned hundreds of tunes. He even said others sang his songs better than he did. Which, if you think about it, is both humble and a little bit like giving away your winning lottery ticket.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in '85, the Country Music Hall of Fame in '04, and even snagged a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. All for being the guy behind the curtain, pulling the strings of some of the most iconic tunes ever recorded. Here are a few that might just surprise you.

The Hits You Thought Were Someone Else's

Take "Me and Bobby McGee." You probably hear Janis Joplin's gravelly, perfect voice wailing it. Or maybe Jerry Lee Lewis's rollicking take. Both hit number one. Kristofferson wrote it after Monument Records founder Fred Foster tossed him the idea. Kris released his own version, sure, but the covers? They became legends.

Then there's the heartbreaking "Nobody Wins," a relationship post-mortem so poignant it got covered 24 times, including by Frank Sinatra. Brenda Lee's version in 1973 hit number one in Canada, proving that a good cry is universal.

Kristofferson, a literature buff with degrees to prove it, even snuck John Steinbeck into his songwriting. He joked he "kind of wrote it with John Steinbeck…only he was dead at the time," referring to "Here Comes That Rainbow Again." It's based on a scene from The Grapes of Wrath, finding humanity in the bleakest moments. Johnny Cash called it one of his favorites and covered it in 1985.

"For the Good Times" was Kristofferson's way of processing a breakup, likely his first marriage. It resonated with, well, everyone. Ray Price's 1970 recording made it huge, earning Song of the Year. Elvis, Al Green, Perry Como, and even Sinatra took a crack at it.

Apparently, writing love songs for the women he was dating was a thing. He wrote "I've Got to Have You" for Carly Simon, who said it perfectly captured his intense vibe. Their romance was brief, but the song landed on her Anticipation album, a testament to its staying power.

"Why Me (Lord)?" — that's Kristofferson's biggest hit as a singer, reaching number one on the country charts. Inspired by Larry Gatlin, it became a Christian music staple, with over 100 covers. Even Elvis loved and performed it often. Because apparently, even the King needed to ask, "Why me?"

He co-wrote "Once More With Feeling" with Shel Silverstein, which sounds like the most intriguing collaboration ever. Jerry Lee Lewis's version hit number two in 1970, outshining Kristofferson's own later release.

And then there's "Help Me Make It Through the Night." Written after Frank Sinatra quipped about needing "Booze, broads, or a bible…whatever helps me make it through the night," Kristofferson crafted a song so scandalous for its time, it's now got over 500 cover versions. Sammi Smith and Willie Nelson both took it to the top of the charts.

In 1984, he earned an Oscar nomination for Songwriter, a film where he wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks, including "How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around." He lost to Prince's Purple Rain. Which, let's be honest, is a tough act to follow.

Finally, "Sunday Morning Coming Down." Like "Bobby McGee," it became a smash through another artist, Johnny Cash, who performed it on his show. It won Song of the Year in 1970, allowing Kristofferson to finally quit his day jobs and just write. It's been covered over 200 times, and even found new life in the sci-fi novel Project Hail Mary. Because a good song, much like a good story, always finds its audience, no matter the universe.