Gordon Lightfoot - Me and Bobby McGee [HD]

Gordon Lightfoot sings 'Me and Bobby McGee' from his 1970 debut Reprise album 'Sit Down Young Stranger' (later named 'If You Could Read My Mind'). This song was written by Kris Kristofferson and a big hit for Janis Joplin. The lyrics are below with comments about the song.

Note: The video shows images of Gordon Lightfoot and some of the many others who sang this song including Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Joan Baez, LeAnn Rimes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers, Kris Kristofferson, and Janis Joplin.

[Vinyl/19-Images/WAV]

Me and Bobby McGee (Singer: Gordon Lightfoot)

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 bandana
And was blowin' sad while Bobby sang the blues
With those windshield wipers slappin' time and Bobby clapping hands
We finally sang every song that driver knew

Freedom just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' mean worth nothin' but it's free
Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
Feelin' good 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, Lord, through everything I've done
Every night she kept me from the cold

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
Searchin' for the home I heard she found
And I'd give all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday
Holdin' Bobby's body close to mine

Freedom just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' mean worth nothin' but it's free
Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
Feelin' good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee

La-da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da
La-da-da, me and Bobby McGee
La-da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da
La-da-da, me and Bobby McGee

La-da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da
La-da-da, me and Bobby McGee
La-da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da
La-da-da, me and Bobby McGee

La-da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da
La-da-da, me and Bobby McGee
La-da-da-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da
La-da-da, me and Bobby McGee

Songwriters: Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster
[Lyrics from Musixmatch]

Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot - guitar, piano, vocals, Red Shea - guitar, Rick Haynes - bass, Ry Cooder - slide guitar, Kris Kristofferson (rumored to have provided harmony vocals).

Wikipedia states:

"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by Roger Miller. Fred Foster shares the writing credit, as Kristofferson wrote the song based on a suggestion from Foster. 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. Gordon Lightfoot released a version that reached number 1 on the Canadian country charts in 1970. Jerry Lee Lewis released a version that was number 1 on the country charts in December 1971/January 1972 as the "B" side of "Would You Take Another Chance On Me." Billboard ranked Joplin's version as the No. 11 song for 1971.

The song is the story of two drifters, the narrator and Bobby McGee. The pair hitch a ride from a truck driver and sing as they drive through the American South before making their way westward. They visit California and then part ways, with the song's narrator expressing sadness afterwards. Due to the singer's name never being mentioned and the name "Bobby" being gender-neutral (especially in America), the song has been recorded by both male and female singers with only minor differences in the lyrical content.

Roger Miller was the first artist to record the song (in May 1969), and it appeared at No. 12 on the U.S. country chart in 1969. Kenny Rogers and The First Edition recorded the song in May/June 1969, and released it on their album Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town in 1969. On the Canadian charts, Gordon Lightfoot's version (recorded in November 1969) hit No. 13 on the pop music chart and No. 1 on the country music chart in 1970.

Kris Kristofferson recorded his own version of the song on his debut album Kristofferson in 1970.

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