The only way to be completely free is not to have possessions or commitments or relationships.Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin' for the train Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained Took us all the way to New Orleans I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna I was blowin' sad while Bobby sang the blues With that windshield wiper slappin' time and Bobby clappin' hands We finally sang up every song that driver knew Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose And nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free Feelin' good was easy, Lord when Bobby sang the blues Buddy, that was good enough for me, good enough for me and Bobby McGee From the coal mines of Kentucky to the California sun Bobby shared the secrets of my soul Standin' right beside me, through everything I've done And every night he kept me from the cold Then somewhere near Salinas, I let him slip away Lookin' for the home I hope he'll find And I'll trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday Holdin' Bobby's body next to mine Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose And nothin' left is all he left for me Ah, feelin' good was easy, Lord when Bobby sang the blues Buddy, that was good enough for me, good enough for me and Bobby McGee Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee, good enough for me and my Bobby McGee I let him slip away, lookin' for that home I hope he'll find Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee, good enough for me and my Bobby McGee Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee. then we're not really free, because we have ties and responsibilities. If we have friends, families, jobs, relationships, homes. The lover draws one lesson: "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." That means we're only free if we have nothing. Buddy, that was good enough for me Good enough for me and Bobby McGee. Feeling good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues. The lover thinks Bobby was a rare and special person, and hopes Bobby finds whatever it is he/she is looking for. Freedom's just another word for nothing' left to lose: Nothin' left is all she left for me. The lover misses Bobby, but doesn't hold any grudges over being abandoned. For that reason, Bobby eventually abandons the lover, in search of some elusive place where he or she will be happy. We're led to believe that Bobby McGeee is a free spirit who hates the idea of being tied down.
Bobby sings, to entertain the trucker, while her lover plays the harmonica (a harmonica is often called a "blues harp," and "harpoon" is another nickname for the harmonica).
And when Kriss wrote the song, Bobby McGee was a girl In fact, Bobby McGee was an alias for Janis Joplin herself.Īt the start of the song, Bobby McGee and her boyfriend are backpacking all over America. But the song was originally written by Janis' former boyfriend Kris Kristofferson. From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul. Yeah, an feeling good was easy, Lord, Bobby sang the blues, You know feeling good was good enough for me, hmm mm, Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee. And Is feeling nearly as faded as my jeans. Nothing dont mean nothing honey if it aint free. When Janis Joplin sang this song, everyone figured Bobby McGee was a man. Me and Bobby McGee Lyrics Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train. Me and Bobby McGee Lyrics Verse 1 Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train When I was feelin' near as faded as my jeans Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained That rode us all.