Me and Bobby McGee

Kris Kristofferson (with Fred Foster) originally wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" for Roger Miller, a gifted country music performer whose work often included humor. Miller's release reached number 12 on the country music charts but did not cross over.  Janis Joplin's version, recorded only a few days before her death, became a number one hit in 1971, making her only the second artist (after Otis Redding) to reach number one posthumously.  Many other artists have recorded "Me and Bobby McGee," including Kristofferson himself, of course. (Don't miss the historical interest, Icelandic, and Serbian versions at the bottom of this post.)

There is no video of Janis Joplin performing this song, as she died shortly after it was recorded.

Here is a Janis Joplin tribute performance:

Audio only

Janis Joplin, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar:

 

Historical interest only:

Icelandic

This Serbian performance is notable only for the line "dirty red banana":

Comments

[JIm Kruswurst]

Kristofferson is a remarkable guy. In addition to being a singer, song writer and actor he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Pomona College and a recipient of a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford. He enlisted in the army and became a helicopter pilot and Ranger school grad. He even has a collection to law school: one of his sons is a graduate of Pepperdine School of Law.