"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and songwriter Fred Foster, originally performed by Roger Miller. A posthumously-released version by Janis Joplin topped the U.S. singles chart in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released No. 1 single in U.S. chart history after "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. Billboard ranked Joplin's version as the No. 11 song for 1971.

Joplin recorded the song for inclusion on her Pearl album only a few days before her death in October 1970. Kristofferson had sung the song for her, and singer Bob Neuwirth taught it to her. Kristofferson did not know she had recorded it until after her death. The first time he heard her recording of it was the day after she died. Joplin's version topped the charts to become her only number one single and in 2004, her version of this song was ranked No. 148 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Lyrics

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 McGee

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 McGee

La da da La da da da La da da da da da da da La da da da da da da da Bobby McGee, yeah

La da da da da da da La da da da da da da La da da da da da da Bobby McGee, 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 McGee, 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 McGee, 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 McGee, yeah

Woo La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la la Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGee, yeah La da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la da, la Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, yeah

Songwriters: Fred L Foster / Kris Kristofferson

Me and Bobby McGee lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC