Nobody sings badly so well as Janis Joplin. Not Tom Waits, not Bob Dylan, nobody. Her gritty, raw voice on this song veers into unexpected tones shot through with urgent emotion. Incredibly, she was only 27 years old when she recorded what had been a sleepy little country number—a song for hippies—transforming it into an electrifying, gritty anthem to yearning. Born in Port Arthur, a small town on the coast near Louisiana, she threw off any expectations that she be a perfectionist, fettered Southern Lady, got the hell out of dodge, and became a legend. Long live Janis.

Janis Joplin, "Me and Bobby McGee," 1970. Written by Fred Foster & Kris Kristofferson., 1969.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to early June, 2025.

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