"Me And Bobby Mcgee" lyrics

"Me And Bobby Mcgee"
(originally by Roger Miller)

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.

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose,
And nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's 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.
Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away,
She was lookin' for the love I hope she'll find,
Well I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday,
Holdin' Bobby's body close to mine.

Freedom's 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.


Writer(s): Kris Kristofferson, Fred L Foster
Janis Joplin was among the inspirations for Kris Kristofferson to write "Me And Bobby McGee". Kristofferson said, "'Bobby McGee' was the song that made the difference for me. Every time I sing it, I still think of Janis." Her version of the song was released posthumously in 1971.
Kris Kristofferson explained the line about freedom with "The two-edged sword that freedom is. He was free when he left the girl, but it destroyed him. That's where the line 'Freedom's just another name for nothing left to lose' came from."
Roger Miller first recorded this song in 1969. His version peaked at number 12 on the U.S. country chart.