But Janis died and that was the only vocal track they had. It was not intended to be the final version that would be released. Janis Joplin's vocal was a rough track that would have been redone later on. Thanks for the memory! JJ is the best singer of this song, but a close second was the bass player of Chris Barber's Jazz Band – live. In the original lyrics, as sung by Roger Miller, Bobby McGee is a woman and the pronouns are 'she' and 'her.' Like Joplin, Kristofferson is from Texas. He also was an outstanding student at Pomona and, later, at Merton College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. So he went back out ion tour, though he did start one song and stop saying he couldn’t remember more. Turns out it was tertiary (neurological) Lyme disease that responded to treatment. A couple more items about him: he had stopped performing because he couldn’t remember his songs. Louis (great venue) just maybe 3 years ago or so (Kris K I mean). 'I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday, holding Bobbie's body next to mine' I placed it on my Facebook.

His ability to dash down deep philosophical lines with such frugality of words was remarkable. Janice was able to rise in the bow of Kris's poetry. The chance combination of these two talents was a gift to all struggling young couples in that era. I think he was a very talented poet, but just couldn't sing a note I wanted to hear. Which is strange because it is the only Janice Joplin song I ever liked. 'Bobby McGee' has always been one of my favorite songs. I see the interview is online, but behind a paywall I have no interest in crossing…. Specifically IIRC he was dissatisfied with her phrasing which didn't follow the rhythms he'd written very closely, especially around the line 'windshield wipers slappin' time' Judging from the way he concludes this version, it almost sounds as though it were still in process of composition.įor some reason an old interview with Kristofferson got stuck in my mind….Īnyhoo, what I remembered was that he seemed a little critical of Joplin's interpretation, while probably not feeling comfortable openly criticizing an official Legend and a recording that presumably made a lot of money for him (it had been a billboard #1). ' Kris Kristofferson 'Me & Bobby McGee' 1970 (Reelin' In The Years Archive)' Here's a very early version by Kris Kristofferson. Foster, he is listed as one of the writers of the song, but I never heard him perform it. September 12, 7:42 you or someone else provide a link to KK's original performance? I know that, together with F. Joplin's version is a pretty straight cover. Kris Kristofferson wrote the song,and the nonsense syllable verse was part of his original composition and performance. Filed by Victor Mair under Language and music, Language and psychology.' Morphophonetic aesthetics' (4/8/11) - discusses lexical earworm infections.

Who wrote me and bobby mcgee