Me and Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The lyrics of Janis Joplin's song Me and Bobby McGee describe a free-spirited and adventurous journey taken by the singer (Joplin herself) and Bobby McGee. The song starts with the singer feeling tired and worn down while waiting in Baton Rouge for a train. Bobby thumbs a ride on a diesel, and they head to New Orleans. During the journey, the singer plays her harp and sings along with Bobby while holding his hand. The chorus emphasizes that freedom means having nothing to lose, and feeling good comes with singing the blues.
The second verse of the song talks about how Bobby helped the singer get through challenging times. She shares that they traveled together from Kentucky to California, and he "shared the secrets of her soul." They go through all kinds of weather and challenges together until one day, she lets him go, and he heads off in search of his home. She hopes that he finds it, and even though she misses him, she wouldn't trade the memories of their time together for anything.
The final part of the song repeats the chorus, emphasizing that freedom is about having nothing to lose, and feeling good comes with singing the blues. The song ends with the singer calling out Bobby's name, declaring her love for him, and saying that she did the best she could.
Overall, the song celebrates freedom, love, and adventure while touching on the reality that nothing in life comes without a cost. The character of Bobby McGee represents the journey's spirit and how he influenced the singer's life in her travels.
Line by Line Meaning
Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train
Stranded in Baton Rouge, waiting for transportation
And I's feelin' near as faded as my jeans
Emotionally drained, feeling hopeless
Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained
Bobby hitchhiked and caught a ride to New Orleans
It rode us all the way to New Orleans
The ride carried them from Baton Rouge to New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
Taking out her harmonica from her hat
I was playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues, yeah
She played harmonica softly while Bobby sang the blues
Windshield wipers slappin' time, I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
In the car, holding hands with Bobby as the windshield wipers matched their song
We sang every song that driver knew
They sang along to all the songs the driver played
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Expressing freedom as having no ties, no responsibilities and nothing left to lose
Nothin', don't mean nothin' hon' if it ain't free, no no
Nothing is worth paying for if it restricts freedom
And, feelin' good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues
She felt great when Bobby sang the blues
You know, feelin' good was good enough for me
Being content with feeling good was satisfying
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGhee
Content with satisfaction and best friend Bobby
From the Kentucky coal mine to the California sun
Traveling from Kentucky to California
There Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Bobby was trusted with her deepest feelings
Through all kinds of weather, through everything we done
Bobby supported her through every circumstance and struggle
Yeah, Bobby baby kept me from the cold
Bobby provided warmth and comfort in difficult times
One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away
Near Salinas, she lost Bobby
He's lookin' for that home, and I hope he finds it
Bobby is searching for peace and home
But, I'd trade all of my tomorrows, for a single yesterday
She wishes she could go back in time to be with Bobby
To be holdin' Bobby's body next to mine
Wishing to physically be with Bobby again
Nothin', that's all that Bobby left me, yeah
She has nothing but memories left of Bobby
Hey, feelin' good was good enough for me, mm-hmm
Once again, satisfaction with feeling good is enough
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGhee
Content with satisfaction and best friend Bobby
Well, I call him my lover, call him my man
Bobby is referred to as her lover and man
I said, I call him my lover did the best I can, c'mon
She proudly exclaims Bobby is her lover and did her best to love him
Hey now, Bobby now
Calling out to Bobby
Hey now, Bobby McGhee, yeah
Another callout to Bobby
Woo
Expression of excitement
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la la
Nonsensical sounds, a melody without meaning
Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGhee, yeah
Calling out to Bobby
La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la
Nonsensical sounds, a melody without meaning
La la la la la la la la
Nonsensical sounds, a melody without meaning
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Nonsensical sounds, a melody without meaning
Hey, my Bobby
Addressing Bobby
Oh, my Bobby McGhee, yeah
Another address to Bobby
La la la la la la la la
Nonsensical sounds, a melody without meaning
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Nonsensical sounds, a melody without meaning
Hey, my Bobby
Addressing Bobby
Oh, my Bobby McGhee, yeah
Another address to Bobby
Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGhee, yeah
Calling out to Bobby
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred L. Foster, Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andre Atteint
on Summertime
Dear Janis