Janis Joplin (born 19 January 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas, United States, di… Read Full Bio ↴Janis Joplin (born 19 January 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas, United States, died 4 October 1970 in Los Angeles, California) was an American singer, songwriter, composer and painter. Originally the lead singer for the blues rock band Big Brother & The Holding Company, Joplin left the band in late 1968 for a solo career. She released two solo albums, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (1969) and Pearl (1971), the latter released after her death. During her solo career, she was backed by the Kozmic Blues Band and later, the Full Tilt Boogie Band. Her version of the Kris Kristofferson song "Me and Bobby McGee" reached #1 in the United States on March 20, 1971.

Easy Rider
Janis Joplin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey mama, mama, come a look at sister,
She's a-standing on the levee trying to do that twist,
But easy rider don't you deny my name,
Oh no, oh no.

Well, I got a girl with a diamond ring,
I'll tell you, boys, she knows how to shake that thing.
Oh! Easy rider don't you deny my name,

Oh no, oh no.

Play it!

Well, I got a horse and he lives in a tree,
He watches Huckleberry Hound on his TV.
But easy rider don't you deny my name,
Oh no, oh no.

I would buy you a plastic suit
And I would even buy you some cardboard fruit.
Oh! But easy rider don't you deny my name,
Oh no, oh no.

Yeah, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby doll
I said, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby doll

I said, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby doll
I said, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Easy Rider" by Janis Joplin is full of fun and playful lyrics that might not mean anything deep or profound but are entertaining and catchy nevertheless. The song presents an idyllic and carefree lifestyle of the singer, who sings about his girl with a diamond ring who knows how to shake that thing, his horse who lives in a tree and watches Huckleberry Hound on TV, and his willingness to buy his loved one a plastic suit and cardboard fruit. In the chorus, the singer pleads with "Easy Rider" not to deny his name, implying that being easy-going and free-spirited like the stereotypical biker is an essential aspect of his identity.

The central message of the song seems to be that the singer values his freedom and individuality above all and is proud to associate himself with the Easy Rider symbol. However, it's also possible to interpret the song as a satire of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, which glorified the hippie lifestyle and rebelled against society's norms and expectations. By portraying himself as a quirky outsider with a weird horse and a taste for fake fruit, the singer might be mocking the hippie's rejection of materialism and their sometimes-naive idealism.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey mama, mama, come a look at sister,
Hey mother, come here and see your daughter. She's standing on the levee trying to dance and have a good time.

She's a-standing on the levee trying to do that twist,
She's standing by the river trying to do the popular dance move called the twist.

But easy rider don't you deny my name, Oh no, oh no.
But easy rider, don't you forget my name. I want you to remember me.

Well, I got a girl with a diamond ring,
I have a girl who I've given a diamond ring to show my love for her.

I'll tell you, boys, she knows how to shake that thing.
She's a great dancer and knows how to move that body well.

Oh! Easy rider don't you deny my name, Oh no, oh no.
Oh, easy rider, don't forget who I am. I want you to recognize me.

Well, I got a horse and he lives in a tree,
I have a wild imagination; I imagine having a horse that lives in a tree, which is not possible in reality.

He watches Huckleberry Hound on his TV.
I even imagine my horse watches the cartoon 'Huckleberry Hound' on his TV; this shows the absurdity of my imagination.

But easy rider don't you deny my name, Oh no, oh no.
But easy rider, don't ignore my existence. I deserve to be recognized.

I would buy you a plastic suit,
I would buy you a cheap suit made of plastic. This shows that I am willing to do anything for you.

And I would even buy you some cardboard fruit.
I would buy you fake fruit made of cardboard, even if it's not real. This emphasizes the idea of doing anything for you.

Oh! But easy rider don't you deny my name, Oh no, oh no.
Oh, easy rider, don't refuse to acknowledge me. I want you to remember me.

Yeah, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby doll
Easy rider, please remember me and don't forget me, pretty baby doll.

I said, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby doll
I repeated the request; don't forget me, pretty baby doll.

I said, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby doll
Again, I request you not to forget my name, pretty baby doll.

I said, easy rider, don't you deny my name, pretty baby
For the final time, I plead with you; remember me, pretty baby.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JAMES GURLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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