Lyrics of
Me and Bobby McGee

Me and Bobby McGee was written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. Kristofferson was inspired by the American movies and literature theme of hitting the road in search of freedom. He started drafting the song in a helicopter, commuting between jobs in the Gulf of Mexico. The character of Bobby McGee was inspired by Barbara Bobby McKee, a secretary at Combine Music, a music publishing company, who was an acquaintance of Kristofferson. The song ... discusses themes of freedom and the loss of it and became famously performed by Janis Joplin. See more [+]

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train
When I's feelin' near as faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained
And rode us all the way into New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
I's playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues
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', it ain't nothin' honey, if it ain't free
And feelin' good was easy, lord, oh, 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 mines to the California sun
Yeah 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, lo-ord, I let him slip away
He's lookin' for that home and I hope he finds it
Well I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday
To be holdin' Bobby's body next to mine

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin', and that's all that Bobby left me
Well, feelin' good was easy, lo-o-ord, when he sang the blues
And feelin' good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee yeah

La da da, la da daa, la da daa da daa da daa
La da da da daa dadada Bobby McGee-ah
Laa li daa da daa daa, la da daa da daa
Laa la laa la daada Bobby McGee-ah yeah
La di da, ladida LA dida LA di daa, ladida LA dida LA di daa
Hey now Bobby now now Bobby McGee yeah
Lo lo LO lolo LO lo laa, lololo LO lolo LO lolo LO lolo LO la laa
Hey now Bobby now now 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 now 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