I Wish I'd Written That

                                                  

I first heard "Me and Bobby McGee" sung by Kris Kristofferson on the album by the same name.  I guess Roger Miller had already put it on the country charts, but for some reason I don't recall hearing him sing it.  I only listened to country, so I never heard Janis Joplin sing her immortalized version till years later.  When I get my guitar out, "Bobby McGee" is the song I'm most likely to sing first.  One time my granddaughter, Monica, probably four years old at the time, heard someone on the radio singing the song and asked, "Why is that woman singing Grandma's song?"

I think the part I really love most is the line, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."  I can explore the meanings in that line for hours.

 Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train
And I's feeling nearly 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 playing soft while Bobby sang the blues.
Windshield wipers slapping time, I was holding Bobby's hand in mine,
We sang every song that driver knew.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free, now now.
And feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
You know feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.
From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun,
Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul.
Through all kinds of weather, through everything that we done,
Hey Bobby baby kept me from the cold.
One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away,
He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it,
But I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday
To be holding Bobby's body next to mine.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing, that's all that Bobby left me, yeah,
But feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.