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Everyone loves learning the lyrics to a new song, right? And learning the lyrics to a song in English is a really great way to practice your English. So, today we are going to look at a classic rock song, made famous by Janis Joplin, that won\u2019t be too hard to learn and will be easy to sing along to, in fact you can start singing along at the end of this post!<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with a first look at the lyrics; below I\u2019ll explain the song in more detail.<\/p>\n
“Me & Bobby McGee”<\/strong> (written by Kris Krsitofferson and Fred Foster)<\/p>\n Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna, Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun, One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away, Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, La la la, la la la la, la la la, la la la la La La la, la la la la la la, Lord, I’m calling my lover, calling my man, Yeah! Whew!<\/p>\n Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord In summary, this song is about a couple, two lovers, who are traveling around the United States (from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, from Kentucky and to California). They seem to be traveling by hitch hiking and they sound like wanders, hippies, and free spirits. By the end of the song we know that the couple is no longer together. Bobby settled down at some point and the person singing the song misses him\/her (‘Bobby’ can be a man or a woman’s nickname) and their time together.<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s look at some specific lines from this song and dissect what is being said.<\/p>\n \u201cBusted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train\u201d \u201cAnd I’s feeling nearly as faded as my jeans\u201d \u201cBobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained\u201d \u201cI pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna\u201d \u201cOne day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away\u201d \u201cBut I’d trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday\u201d “C’mon, where is Bobby now, where is Bobby McGee, yeah” Alright, now it is time to sing along with Janis Joplin. Here is her version of this song. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
\nAnd I’s feeling nearly as faded as my jeans.
\nBobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,
\nIt rode us all the way to New Orleans.<\/p>\n
\nI was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues.
\nWindshield wipers slapping time, I was holding Bobby’s hand in mine,
\nWe sang every song that driver knew.<\/p>\n
\nNothing don’t mean nothing honey if it ain’t free, now.
\nAnd feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
\nYou know feeling good was good enough for me,
\nGood enough for me and my Bobby McGee.<\/p>\n
\nHey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul.
\nThrough all kinds of weather, through everything that we done,
\nHey Bobby baby kept me from the cold.<\/p>\n
\nHe’s looking for that home and I hope he finds it,
\nBut I’d trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday
\nTo be holding Bobby’s body next to mine.<\/p>\n
\nNothing, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah,
\nBut feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
\nHey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm,
\nGood enough for me and my Bobby McGee.<\/p>\n
\nLa la la la la Bobby McGee.
\nLa la la la la, la la la la la
\nLa la la la la, Bobby McGee, la.<\/p>\n
\nLa La la la la la la la la, hey now Bobby now Bobby McGee yeah.
\nNa na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na na na na
\nHey now Bobby now, Bobby McGee, yeah.<\/p>\n
\nI said I’m calling my lover just the best I can,
\nC’mon, where is Bobby now, where is Bobby McGee, yeah,
\nLordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
\nHey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord!<\/p>\n
\nHey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee.<\/p>\n
\nbusted flat = to be out of money; so the couple is out of money and hoping to catch a free ride on a train or with a car that may pass by them<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019s = I + was (this is not really a grammatical contraction, but acceptable in a song)
\nfeeling faded = this means feeling worn out or tired, like faded blue jeans<\/p>\n
\nto thumb = to stick out one\u2019s thumb in order to hitch hike or get a free ride in a car
\na diesel = a car or truck that runs on diesel fuel<\/p>\n
\nharpoon = this is a slang word for a harmonica; an instrument that is played by blowing wind through small holes<\/p>\n
\nslip away = to leave; this term indicates regret about a loss<\/p>\n
\nThis line is similar to saying: \u2018I would give up all my future just to have my past back.\u2019<\/p>\n
\nc’mon = come + on, which is an expression that usually means ‘hurry up’<\/p>\n