Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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 to New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
I was playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues, yeah
Windshield wipers slappin' time, I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew
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 McGhee
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 of my tomorrows, for a 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, 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 McGhee
La da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Bobby McGhee, yeah
La da da da da da da
La da da da da da da
La da da da da da da
Bobby McGhee, yeah
La da La la da da la da da la da da
La da da da da da da da da
Hey, my Bobby
Oh, my Bobby McGhee, yeah
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Hey, my Bobby
Oh, my Bobby McGhee, yeah
Well, 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 McGhee, yeah
Woo
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la la
Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGhee, yeah
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGhee, yeah
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 to New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
I was playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues, yeah
Windshield wipers slappin' time, I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew
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 McGhee
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 of my tomorrows, for a 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, 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 McGhee
La da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
Bobby McGhee, yeah
La da da da da da da
La da da da da da da
La da da da da da da
Bobby McGhee, yeah
La da La la da da la da da la da da
La da da da da da da da da
Hey, my Bobby
Oh, my Bobby McGhee, yeah
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Hey, my Bobby
Oh, my Bobby McGhee, yeah
Well, 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 McGhee, yeah
Woo
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la la
Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGhee, yeah
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGhee, yeah
Lyrics submitted by capitol76, edited by calcaylor, DanVitaleRocks
Me and Bobby McGee Lyrics as written by Kris Kristofferson Fred L. Foster
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Kris Kristofferson wrote the song about a girl called Bobby Mcgee.
"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 she’ll find "
Roger Miller first recorded it in 1969 - it hit #12 on the Country Charts.
Janis recorded it on her album "Pearl" in 1971 and the 'she' became a 'he'.
"I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana, I was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues". the harpoon refers to a harmonica or harp, as most blues singers call it, not shooting up. Kris Kristofferson wrote a lot of songs for a lot of different people, notably Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose" is one of the best lines ever written. After Janis and Aretha, no female singer even comes close
Except Julie Andrews, Adriana Caselotti, Fiona Apple and Kristen Chenowith are so much better it's not even funny.<br /> <br /> but I dont get the freedom line... what is that supposed to mean?
Okay, I take this to what seems like the obvious conclusion to me but no one else has said it yet.
Doesn't it sound like they were two young lovers just roamin' around together, makin music and makin love?
Then the girl/guy (depending on who's singing it) wanted more, "He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it" but the singer of the song couldn't commit like their lover wanted them to.
"I let him slip away" would then mean that the singer had the chance to be with him/her but decided against it and the song's basically regretting that decision and wishing they could go back, "I’d trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday To be holding Bobby’s body next to mine."
Well, it does say "looking for my man," so I'm assuming Bobby was a guy...
ok well i dont think its a metaphor and im pretty sure he loved her too. to me it seems like she was kinda a drifter free spirit or w/e and he wanted to settle down but she couldnt or didnt want to but it made her sad bc she loved him so much and she wished things didnt have to be like that
This song goes way back to my dating days. Always loved it. Now since my beautiful wife, PattySue, waits for me in heaven the words, " I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday," hits home. Love you baby. Can't wait to be with you and Jesus.
Love this song and nowi know that i was singing all the wrong words in the chorus
steph your funny
This is one of the few Janis Joplin songs I like, but this one rocks. I just don't know what she means by she let Bobby "slip away". But I like the idea of them having fun together back in the sixties or so. What a great time that must have been.
love this song
"freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose"
so so so true.....does anyone know who bobby mcgee was or what the metaphor is?
@Bulkyone OK I know its 20yrs later but Bobby Mcgee was actually a female secretary named Bobby Mckee. Kris Kristofferson changed it to Mcgee. I don't know why.