Bobby McGee Janis Joplin Kris Kristofferson

Ranked #6,228 in Music, #171,501 overall

County Music's Icon Kris Kristofferson's Bobby McGee

Kris Kristofferson was living in a condemded building when someone broke in one day while he was gone and trashed the place and stole what little he had to steal. Everything was gone! He had lost his family and wife and was disowned by parents. Not having anything was liberating. No way to go but up.

So he wrote this song.

Bobby Newarth (having heard Roger Miller's recording of the song) taught Janis the song while Kris was in Peru making a film with Dennis Hopper. He sang the song in the film.

Bobby introduced Kris to Janis later (where they lived in her house for about a month). They became friends but he never heard her sing the song until after she died.
(From interview on NPR's Fresh Air)

"If it sounds country, well..that's what it is!" K.K.

Me and Bobby McGee By Various Artists

Many people have recorded this song. Vote for your favorite!

janis joplin me and bobby mc gee

janis joplin me and... 1 point

Grateful Dead - Me & Bobby McGee

Grateful Dead - Me &... 0 points

Joan Baez - Me And Bobby McGee

Joan Baez - Me And B... 0 points

Tori Amos Me And Bobby Mcgee live

Tori Amos Me And Bob... 0 points

Johnny Cash - Me And Bobby McGee (live)

Johnny Cash - Me And... 0 points

Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins "Me and... 0 points

Willie Nelson Me and Bobby McGee

Willie Nelson Me and... 0 points

Pink - Me & bobby McGee

Pink - Me & bobby Mc... 0 points

Bobby McGee is a Classic!

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Bobby McGee & Kristofferson & the Media

Me and Bobby McGee : Rolling Stone
Top Spot: No 1
NPR : Singer and Actor Kris Kristofferson
His hit songs Me and Bobby McGee, and Help Me Make it Through the Night, earned him acclaim as a country singer and his musical success led him to films.He was recently chosen to be inducted into the Country Hall of Fame. (Rebroadcast from March 23, 1988.)
NPR : Kris Kristofferson Turns 70
Singer, songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson is probably best known for his hit Me and Bobby McGee. He turned 70 on June 22, 2006 and has just received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This spring, he released the album This Old Road, and there's an upcoming tribute albu
Coverville: Coverville 144: Me and Me and Me and Bobby McGee
Podcast: Tonight we take a trip with Bobby McGee, from the coal mines of Kentucky to the California Sun, and you hear how seven different artists perform a version of the same song. Here's what's on tonight's show:

Bobby McGee Is Featured On The Following Lens

Loading

Janis Joplin Sings Bobby McGee Video

Janis Joplin - Me & Bobby McGee
by whodoyouthink8 | video info

3,594 ratings | 1,176,101 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Portrait of Janis Joplin at the 1969 Newport Folk Festival. Photo by Diana Davies, from the Smithsonian.

Janis - Pearl

Poster

Janis Joplin(Pearl) Poster

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Janis - Pearl Legacy Edition

Pearl (Legacy Edition)

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Me and Bobby McGee

Lyrics as sung by Janis Joplin

ME & BOBBY MCGEE
Janis Joplin
- words and music by Kris Kristofferson
- first popularized by Roger Miller in 1969 (#12 Country hit)
- lyrics as recorded by Janis Joplin on the 1971 album "Pearl"
(Columbia VCK-30322)

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train
And I's feelin' near as faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained
It rode us all the way into New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
I's playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues, yeah
Windshield wipers slappin' time, I's holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew, yeah

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' don't mean nothin' hon' if it ain't free, no no
And feelin' good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues
You know, feelin' good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

From the Kentucky coal mine to the California sun
There Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Through all kinds of weather, through everything we done
Yeah, Bobby baby kept me from the cold
One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away
He's lookin' for that home and I hope he finds it
But I'd trade all o' my tomorrows for one single yesterday
To be holdin' Bobby's body next to mine

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin', that's all that Bobby left me, yeah
But if feelin' good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues
Hey, feelin' good was good enough for me, mm-hmm
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

La-da-da La-da-da-da La-da-da da-da da-da
La-da-da da-la-da la-da, Bobby McGee, yeah
La-da-la-da-la-da La-da-la-da-da
La-da-la-da-la-la, Bobby McGee, yeah
La-da-da La-da-da La da-da La da-da
La-da-da La da-da La da-da
Hey, my Bobby, Lord, my Bobby McGee, yeah
Lo-da-lo da-la-lo-da-la
Lo-da-la-lo da-la-lo la-la-lo la-la-lo la-la
Hey, my Bobby, Lord, my Bobby McGee, yeah

Lord, I call him my lover, call him my man
I said I call him my lover, did the best I can, c'mon
Hey now Bobby now, hey now Bobby McGee, yeah
La-da la-da la-da la-da la-da la-da la-da la-la
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord!

------ instrumental break ------

La-da la-da la-da la-da la-da la-da la-da la
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, yeah

Kris Sings Bobby McGee Video

powered by Youtube

Kristofferson  

Me & Bobby McGee

Me And Bobby McGee (Album Version)

Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Me & Bobby Mcgee

Written by Kris Kristofferson

Busted flat in baton rouge, headin for the trains,
Feelin nearly faded as my jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,
Took us all the way to new orleans.
Took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
And was blowin sad while bobby sang the blues,
With them windshield wipers slappin time and
Bobby clappin hands we finally sang up every song
That driver knew.

Freedoms just another word for nothin left to lose,
And nothin aint worth nothin but its free,
Feelin good was easy, lord, when bobby sang the blues,
And buddy, that was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my bobby mcgee.

From the coalmines of kentucky to the california sun,
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul,
Standin right beside me through everythin I done,
And every night she kept me from the cold.
The somewhere near salinas, lord, I let her slip away,
She was lookin for the love I hope shell find,
Well Id trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday,
Holdin bobbys body close to mine.

Freedoms just another word for nothin left to lose,
And nothin left was all she left to me,
Feelin good was easy, lord, when bobby sang the blues,
And buddy, that was good enough for me.
Good enough for me and bobby mcgee.

Kris Kristofferson From Flickr

Dreamer_001 by GabboT
tres mujeres by el Buho nº30
O.G. Bobby McGee by igb
Kris Kristofferson by igb
Kris Kristofferson Goes to Sakowitz by schipulites
Kris Kristofferson Goes to Sakowitz by schipulites
Kris Kristofferson Goes to Sakowitz by schipulites
Kris Kristofferson Goes to Sakowitz by schipulites
Kris Kristofferson Goes to Sakowitz by schipulites
Kristoffer Kristofferson by eschipul
Feb 2 2010 Kris by The Fernwoodian
STREISAND and KRISTOFFERSON by JCT(Loves)Streisand*
automatically generated by Flickr

More Kristofferson For Your Library

Loading

Me & Bobby McGee on iTunes

Track Artist Album  
Me and Bobby McGee Kris Kristofferson Kristofferson
Me and Bobby McGee Roger Miller Roger Miller: All Time Greatest Hits
Me & Bobby McGee Grateful Dead Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) [Remastered]
Me and Bobby McGee LeAnn Rimes Leann Rimes
Me and Bobby McGee Fred Foster, Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson
Me & Bobby McGee Waylon Jennings Southland Tales (Original Soundtrack)

RARE 1st Studio Recording Of "Me & Bobby McGee" Janis Joplin

powered by Youtube

Check Out My Other Music Lenses

Loading

Squid Angels Have Blessed This Lens

Please visit their lenses

Please Show This Lens Some Luv

Click the thumbs up

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Are You A Fan Of Bobby McGee?

Have a comment about the song, about this lens or just want to say hi? I want to hear from you!

  • kdlovett Aug 21, 2011 @ 9:18 pm | delete
    Thanks for sharing such an interesting part of his story.
  • kdlovett Aug 21, 2011 @ 9:16 pm | delete
    Although I do love the song, I am more of a fan of the man himself. It is amazing to hear his story. He has lived a very interesting life.
  • OhMe Sep 7, 2008 @ 6:21 am | delete
    Oh what fun. I love that song. 5*
  • johndilbeck Jun 7, 2008 @ 10:43 am | delete
    Pat, this is one of my favorite songs of all time. I liked it a lot, but didn't grok it until I was bankrupted and divorced in the same year. Then I understood it on a gut level that I'll never forget. Losing everything that was important to me gave me another chance to redefine myself and grow in new ways. "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." Act on your dream! JD
  • Bill_D Sep 6, 2007 @ 1:49 am | delete
    My favorite janis song!
  • Load More

If You Like This Lens, Please Bookmark It

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

About CardLady

Loading

Promote your business, hobbies & interests. Get paid to create lenses on your favorite subjects with Squidoo. The more lenses you create - the more you get paid.

Click Here To Make A Page!

by

CardLady

Artist and traveler looking for others that want to laugh, dance and create! I'm an avid fan of Kristofferson and the Highwaymen country music. Here... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Kindle DX 

New E Ink Pearl Technology

Kindle DX, Free 3G, 9.7" E Ink Display, 3G Works Globally

Amazon Price: $379.00 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Kindle DX, Free 3G, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 9.7" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Kristofferson: The Wild American 

Kristofferson: The Wild American

Amazon Price: $9.70 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Natural Act 

Kris & Rita

Natural Act

Amazon Price: $4.50 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now