“Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin
As originally conceived, this song is supposed to feature something like a twist ending. You see “Me and Bobby McGee” was originally written by a couple of dudes (Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster) and given to another dude (Roger Miller) to sing. And when you read the name “Bobby McGee”, instantly it is a male character that comes to mind. But in the original rendition of the song, it’s not until pretty late in the lyrics that Miller reveals, through a gender pronoun, that it is rather a female he is singing about, indeed a romantic interest of his.
Janis Joplin’s Rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee”
Well as far as Janis Joplin’s version is concerned, the cat is let out of the bag kinda early as listeners will for the most part presume that Bobby is a male and subsequently someone whom the singer is romantically involved with. And both of those presumptions are true in this case.
But that being noted, “Me and Bobby McGee” isn’t really what you would call a love song in the truest sense of the word. Let’s say that if it were turned into a film, it would be akin to a buddy movie with a romantic undertone and a sad ending. This is precisely how it was intentionally designed by Kristofferson.
Indeed it isn’t until late in the second verse that Joplin lets it be explicitly known that she and Bobby actually had a thing going on.
Prior to that, they read like a couple of homeys who basically traverse the southern part of the United States, starting in New Orleans, to get to California. Or stated differently they hitchhike across almost the entire length of the country, dealing with a number of challenges along the way yet holding each other down throughout.
Indeed going through something like this with another human being is that type of experience which often results in a permanent bond being formed. And that’s the main idea that comes out through the first half of the song, that the singer and Bobby McGee had a genuine, loving bond akin to a close friendship, even in putting the romance aspect aside.
The Narrator and Bobby McGee part Ways
Well they do in fact make it to California, and it’s in the city of Salinas where everything changes. That is to say that upon reaching their destination, the narrator and Bobby part ways. And it reads as if doing so was Bobby’s idea. And perhaps the singer could have stopped him, but she let him roam free in the name of pursuing his destiny.
Thus in the aftermath, she doesn’t necessarily regret not stopping him. But that does not prevent the vocalist from still being in her feelings. It’s obvious that she’s a free spirit, and in hindsight Bobby was like her soulmate. Or stated bluntly, she misses him dearly. And note that this song was written during the 1960s, when it was exponentially more difficult for free roamers to remain in contact with each other.
So Bobby is gone, and the singer is heartbroken. And such is the conclusive sentiment of this song.
Did Janis Joplin write “Me & Bobby McGee”?
No. This song was written primarily by Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson has been both a professional singer and actor and is best known as the latter as of the 21st century (due to co-starring with Wesley Snipes’ in the Blade trilogy). The first singer to record it, back in 1969, was the late Roger Miller (1936-1992).
Janis’ Version
Janis Joplin’s rendition came out, via Columbia Records, on 11 January 1971. This was after the songstress had already passed away, at the age of 27, in late 1970. In fact she recorded this song just a few days prior to expiring from a drug overdose on 4 October of that year. So this track is actually the lead single from her posthumous album, “Pearl”.
Janis Joplin and Kris Kristofferson were at a time romantically involved. In fact it was he who introduced her to this song. However, as the story is told, he did not even know she laid down a recording of the tune until the day after her tragic death. And as he explained, the experience, when he heard it for the first time it “just blew (him) away”.
He has also stated that afterwards he “walked all over L.A., just in tears” and that he and Donnie Fritts (1942-2019) went on to write a song in Joplin’s memory entitled “Epitaph” (1971).
Moreover, as Kris Kristofferson revealed in 2015, Joplin’s rendition of the tune played an instrumental role in making him a household name in the entertainment field.
Other Notable Covers
And just to note, a number of other top-level artists have covered this tune. Some of the many big names on the list include the below:
- Kenny Rogers & The First Edition (1969)
- The Grateful Dead (1971)
- Jerry Lee Lewis (1971)
- Johnny Cash (1972)
- Thelma Houston (1973)
- Olivia Newton-John (1973)
- LeAnn Rimes (1999)
- Pink (2004)
- Dolly Parton (2005)
And of course Kris Kristofferson had to lay it down one time himself, doing so on his debut album Kristofferson (1970). And in light of Janis Joplin subsequently sending the popularity of the song into the stratosphere, he later re-released said project in 1971. Interestingly, somewhat shamelessly, his re-release was entitled “Me and Bobby McGee”.
And just to note, Kristofferson also rendered this tune in 2013 when Janis Joplin finally received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Song’s Co-writer Fred Foster
Kristofferson wrote this song alongside Fred Foster (1931-2019), a 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Or as Kris recalls, it was Foster who tasked him with writing it after granting him the title, overall theme and aforementioned twist ending. Then Kristofferson, who was challenged by the assignment, drew inspiration for the lyrics from a movie called “La Strada” (1954). He also got some inspiration for the sound from a country artist named Mickey Newbury (1940-2002).
Meanwhile concerning the title of the track, Fred Foster actually got the “Bobby McGee” from a secretary named Bobbi or Bobbie McKee. She worked for a friend of his, who used to make fun of Fred that he came to his office just to see her. And when given the assignment, Kristofferson misheard the McKee as McGee.
And when the track first came out, the aforementioned Bobbi McKey, who was 29-years old at the time, said that she “would just go crazy every time” she heard it. Mckey went on to remain associated with the song throughout the years.
Success of “Me and McGee”
This classic song marks the only time Janis Joplin managed to top the Billboard Hot 100. And the track also achieved platinum status in the United States. In fact her cover is considered to be amongst the ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’, a list that was put together by Rolling Stone in 2003. And just to note, Joplin also scored a number one with this tune in Australia.
Concerning this song reaching the pinnacle of the Hot 100, according to a 2019 article by Stereogum, Janis Joplin is the only female artist to have achieved this feat posthumously.
When “Me and Bobby McGee” was released as a single, on its B-side was another Janis Joplin song entitled “Half Moon” (which is also featured on “Pearl”). And interesting to note is that said song was co-written by John Hall, who would later become a member of the United States Congress.
