"Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Bobby Bare, who included it on his Where Have All the Seasons Gone album in January 1971.

Kristofferson recorded the song with Rita Coolidge for their final duet album, Natural Act, and later with Mark Knopfler for The Austin Sessions.

In 1974, the song was recorded by American country music artist Ronnie Milsap. It was released in July, as the second single from the album Pure Love. The song was his fourth country hit and second number one on the country chart. With this song Milsap won his first Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Performance. The single stayed at number one for two weeks and spent a total of nine weeks on the country chart.^[1] Milsap himself recorded an earlier version of the song, released on his 1971 self-titled album while recording for Warner Bros. Records.