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.

Leaving on a Jet Plane
Janis Joplin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh

All my bags are packed down
I'm ready to go,
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breaking,
It's early morn

The taxi's waiting,
He's blowin his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

*Chorus
So kiss me and smile for me,
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go*

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
But darling now they don't mean a thing
Every place I go I think of you
Every song I sing I sing it for you
When I come back
I'll wear your wedding ring

*Chorus*

And now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Oh let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
And I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times when I won't have to say...

*Chorus*

I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

I'm leaving on a jet plane
Leaving on a jet plane x 9

Overall Meaning

The song "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Janis Joplin is a beautiful farewell anthem. It speaks about the sadness and longing associated with leaving behind someone dear. The opening lines say it all - "All my bags are packed down, I'm ready to go, I'm standing here outside your door, I hate to wake you up to say goodbye". The singer has made up her mind to leave, but her heart is heavy. She hates to disturb her loved one's sleep, yet she has to say goodbye. The following lines carry on with the same theme, with the dawn breaking and the taxi honking, indicating that it's time to go. Even as the journey begins, the singer is already aware of how much she will miss her loved one - "Already I'm so lonesome I could die". The chorus is both poignant and hopeful. She asks her love to kiss and smile for her, to tell her that they will wait for her, and to hold her like they will never let her go. The singer knows that she is leaving, but she wants to hear words of comfort that will help her to weather the separation.

The second verse deals with the singer's past and how she hasn't always been faithful or trustworthy. But now, she tells her love that none of it matters because she will miss them wherever she goes. She sings every song for them and thinks of them wherever she travels. She even speaks of returning with a wedding ring, signifying that she sees a future with her beloved. The final verse is poignant, with the singer asking for one last kiss before she leaves. She wants to let her love know that she will dream about the days when they won't have to part, and that they will be together forever. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the theme of departure, and conveying how painful it is to leave someone behind.

Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed down
I have finished packing my bags

I'm ready to go
I am prepared to depart

I'm standing here outside your door
I am waiting outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I dislike waking you up to bid farewell

But the dawn is breaking
The dawn is approaching

It's early morn
It is early in the morning

The taxi's waiting
The taxi is ready and waiting for me

He's blowin his horn
The taxi driver is honking the horn

Already I'm so lonesome I could die
I already feel very lonely and sad

So kiss me and smile for me,
Give me a farewell kiss and smile

Tell me that you'll wait for me
Promise me that you will wait for my return

Hold me like you'll never let me go
Embrace me tightly as if you will never let me leave

Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I am departing on an airplane

I don't know when I'll be back again
I am unsure of when I will return

Oh babe, I hate to go
I am sorry to leave, my dear

There's so many times I've let you down
I have disappointed you numerous times in the past

So many times I've played around
I have been unfaithful to you multiple times

But darling now they don't mean a thing
Those actions are now irrelevant and meaningless to me

Every place I go I think of you
I think of you wherever I am

Every song I sing I sing it for you
I dedicate every song I sing to you

When I come back
When I return

I'll wear your wedding ring
I will be wearing your wedding ring when I return

And now the time has come to leave you
It is time for me to depart from you

One more time
One last time

Oh let me kiss you
Please let me kiss you

Then close your eyes
After I kiss you, please close your eyes

And I'll be on my way
I will depart after the kiss

Dream about the days to come
Dream about the future ahead of us

When I won't have to leave alone
When I will not have to depart by myself

About the times when I won't have to say...
About the future moments when I will not have to bid goodbye...

I'm leaving on a jet plane
I am departing on an airplane

Don't know when I'll be back again
I am unsure of when I will return

Oh babe, I hate to go
I am sorry to leave, my dear

Leaving on a jet plane
Departing on an airplane

Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@gremiokrishna163

16w↑2

Its 2024 and still one of the best song out there.

@BostonSprockettes

3y↑4

GUYS- This is the version from the Armageddon soundtrack. It's Chantal Kreviazuk . Not Janis Joplin, Not Jewel, not mama cass. GAWD. 20 years I've been telling people this. Damn.

@lolet2338

2y↑1

The garbage you find when you just hit 'with lyrics.'

@quietsheep

37w↑2

I feel like there was a Napster mislabeling error a few decades ago and it just endured

@Zee06

6y↑5

This is Chantal Kreviazuk. A Canadian musician

@thefrednufc

13y↑5

Great version....probably the best!!!

@michaelnurse9089

2y↑1

It is the best, but nobody knows about it.

@marciokirk206

2y↑2

a melhor versão na melhor voz.........

@Morporkshortman

3y↑4

BEST VERSION. PERIOD.

@AndreaFontani

9y↑13

WTF!!!! Where's Janis???? Not even close!

@thefrednufc

13y↑3

Yes it is Chantal Kreviazuk, ( admit when you're wrong)

@gooseisacat

Wow, don't forget to post her version of Son Of A Preacher Man too! (This was Peter Paul And Mary, originally, THIS song was Peter, Paul & Mary, and THIS is Chantal Kreviazuk, from a soundtrack from 1999, 28 years AFTER Janis died)! Good thing you know how to research!

@thefrednufc

13y↑1

It IS Janis Joplin.. and it's brilliant

@garryshelton6631

11y↑2

Chantal Kreviazuk -- Plug THAT into YouTube and hear for yourselves!

@saharawilli

11y↑2

written by john denver - song by peter paul & mary, that's it homies

@charlesoutdoors2424

7y↑1

Written by Cass Eliott

@Al_Swilling

Exactly right. It was first recorded and released publicly by Peter, Paul and Mary, on their "Album 1700". I own the album. It was written by John Denver and appeared on one of his albums, plus his Greatest Hits album. He also sang the song with Cass Elliot when he was a guest on her TV program.

This is NOT Janis Joplin's style, and as far as I know, she never recorded "Leaving on a Jet Plane". Her style was down and dirty, tell it like it is Blues. "Jet Plane" is a ballad. The closest thing that Joplin ever did to a ballad was "Me and Bobby McGee".

@nicoleglantz8354

Why does everyone think John Denver wrote thiis??? CASS ELIOT!! She needs the cred 💯

@nicoleglantz8354

@al swilling ... youtube this song w cass Eliot and John denver, the two of the singing onstage live, she literally says she wrote the song and it’s her... no one else’s. Lol

@TheMoonGem

13y↑1

if it's not janis joplin then I have a porblem because on my ipod and a cd i have it says that is janis joplin and she sings this song.

@captainercoupe2016

My fav version.

@lilithmartinez1476

9y↑7

No es Janis , es Chantal

@lolet2338

8y↑7

I found it three times... the exact recording with Cheryl Crow, Bjork and Janis Joplin.
Gotta lot of people sounding the same. WHO DOES THIS CRAP?

@bigbabyjesusb5883

6y↑2

Janis joplin died on tour in 1970 and never got a chance to cover this 1968 release.

@lapurta22

5y↑1

The stupid leading the clueless

@michaelnurse9089

2y↑2

Bots. You run a thousand bots like that you get a million views and make $10000.

@AntylopaAdax

12y↑1

It's Jewel Kilcher and Bjork. Why do you say it's Chantal? Don't you hear two vocalists in this song?

@patrickschut1

11y↑1

...MAKE THAT MANY JET PLANES AND STILL DIDNT COME BACK...DOUBT IF I EVER WILL

@billyblankenship3232

I like all Janis

@Paulk7al

13y

Sr. Temón!!!

@cloverson

12y↑2

Someone has the real Janis ? I really would listen to her singing this song

@nicoleglantz8354

Janis never sang this song, at least not recorded

@DaraStarrTucker

13y↑1

@joicyobra37 Why don't you change the name of the video if you know it's wrong? You wouldn't get bugged so much about its incorrectness. Just sayin.

@JasonDessing

12y

Jewel.

@jlharper23

11y↑1

definitely Chantez Kreviazek.. not Joplin

@billyblankenship3232

4y↑1

Her other voice nobody knows about & should

@nicoleglantz8354

Lol joke right?

@charweb31

9y↑6

NOT Janis

@LittleCof

11y↑1

Chantal Kreviazuk!! This is not Janis Joplin.

@dylanjb100

12y

Be happy Magic Beans :)

@lisagreenlow8244

This is Jewel.

@lapurta22

Wrong

@KuFiFoUC

13y

@thefrednufc im sorry to tell you but its not janis, if u listen to janis voice, its not even close to this song

@papet2005

11y

You also could change your title...

@bigbabyjesusb5883

THIS IS EMI FUJITA NOT JANIS JOPLIN.

@pbamse

12y↑1

Remove it. Don't you know she never recorded this song ?

@MagicianJim

10y

She's Jefferson Airplane

@bobzter434

This is Chantal Kreviazuk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbt2G71uT1M

@fblanlot

13y

@Fisticated Chantal Kreviazuk

@GiorgioDeNovellis

NON E' Janis Joplin! La canta (benissimo) Chantal Kreviazuk:
https://youtu.be/bbt2G71uT1M

@davemccarthy52

11y↑2

sounds a little like Rikki Lee Jones. Sounds absolutely NOTHING like JJ...

@sadityus7745

Live concert ok

@kttn_wolf5621

yea that not bad for you

@francessmckee2802

11y

It is not fine. Misleading titles are the scum of the earth. Especially when they lead to a err...umm...musically deficient route.

@TheMirandamad

13y

esa no es janis joplin no mms :S

@andreagalarza8079

11y

Chaaaaaaaaaaaao esta no es janis !!

@aquamarie89

12y

not even close

@terryallen3190

10y↑2

All I have to say is bait and switch and this singer should invest on singing lessons.
Terry

@mdj641

Not Joplin.

@barrecas81

12y

NON è JANIS JOPLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

@theAnnieferg

8y↑1

it's Bjork

@lapurta22

@Teresa-we2ke

That's NOT JANIS! Shame on who ever posted this!!

@lindseynicole3641

10y

This is NOT Janis......

@DravenTheShadowCrow

10y↑1

That's because it's Chantal Kreviazuk

@lindseynicole3641

10y

I know that, but the person who made the video clearly doesn't.

@jessiepowell1154

For sure not Janis Joplin

@killtheego710

well wtf is this shit...didn't I type Janis Joplin...gaaahhh

@bigbabyjesusb5883

THIS IS NOT JANIS JOPLIN. REMOVE THIS VIDEO AND EDIT FOR THE CORRECT ARTIST, SHE IS EMI FUJITA

@lapurta22

Wrong

@aaron4wilkins

WTF? Bullshit, this ain't no Janis Joplin

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