Me And Bobby McGee

(Janis Joplin version)

Words & Music:

Kris Kristofferson

 

This version (with the shift in key from G to A halfway through) is transcribed in the September 2006 issue of Acoustic Guitar.

 

G

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train;

         G                           D7

When I's feelin' near as faded as my jeans.

D7

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,

                                  G  Gsus4  G

That rode us all the way into New Orleans.

 

G

I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

      G                  G7             C

I was playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues.

C                                      G

Windshield wipers slappin' time, I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine.

D7

We sang every song that driver knew.

 

C                               G

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.

D7                                           G

Nothin', it ain't nothin' honey, if it ain't free.

    C                                G

And feelin' good was easy, Lord, oh, when he sang the blues.

          D7

You know, feelin' good was good enough for me,

D7                              G        A

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

 

A

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun,

A                                    E7

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul.

E7

Through all kinds of weather, through everything we done,

E7                                A

Yeah, Bobby baby kept me from the cold.

 

A

One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away.

A                     A7                 D

He's lookin' for that home and I hope he finds it.

D                                       A

Well I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday,

      E7

To be holdin' Bobby's body next to mine.

 

D                               A

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.

E7                                      A

Nothin', and that's all that Bobby left me.

      D                            A

Well, feelin' good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues.

    E7

And feelin' good was good enough for me.

E7                              A

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

 

La-da-da, la-da-da, la-daa-da-da-daa.

La-da-da-da-da-daa, Bobby McGee, ah.

La-da-da-da-daa-daa, la-da-daa-da-daa,

La-da-da-da-da-daa, Bobby McGee, yeah.

 

La di da, ladida LA dida LA di daa, ladida LA dida LA di daa

Hey, now, Bobby!  Now, my Bobby McGee, yeah!

Lo lo LO lolo LO lo laa, lololo LO lolo LO lolo LO lolo LO la laa

Hey, now, Bobby!  Now, my Bobby McGee, yeah!

 

Lord, I called him my lover, I called him my man.

I said, I called him my lover, did the best I can!

C'mon, hey, now, Bobby, now!  Hey, my Bobby McGee, yeah!

Lo lo Lord, a Lord, a Lord, a Lord, a Lord, a Lord, a Lord oh

Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord!