Yes, Janis Joplin was an addict and she was outrageous. But, she was much more than that. The blues singer with the raspy voice was incredibly talented with her songwriting skills and her singing. To this day, she remains a cultural icon and a symbol of her generation. In this video, there are Images that span her lifetime with a song accompaniment by the Raspberries: "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" (1972 from the album "Raspberries"). You will also hear her perform "Me and Bobby McGee" (1970 - from more than one album; in this case, "Pearl", just a few days before her death). Janis Joplin's brief but magnificent career made her a celebrity. Time labeled her a legend of rock music. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. "Me and Bobby McGee" was written in 1969 by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. The song had been previously released by other singers prior to Joplin's recording. Her single became her greatest hit when it reached the #1 spot in the U.S. The Raspberries are the antithesis to Joplin. However, I chose the song "Don't want to say Goodbye" (recorded two years after Joplin's death) because of the lyrics which are befitting for Joplin's feelings, her style and her music. Don't want to say goodbye -LYRICS Don't want to waste your time You're here and there and far away from me I'm so alone, it's just a crime If you could lie here by my side at night If you could chase away my blues You'd understand just how it feels at night To have to stand inside my shoes Don't want to say goodbye Don't want to let you see me cry Still, I don't want you to live a lie I'm gonna try a little harder I'm gonna try a little harder I'm gonna try a little harder And maybe you'll love me Don't want to drive your love away from me Don't want to waste your time You're here and there and far away from me I'm so alone, it's just a crime "Me and Bobby McGee" LYRICS as sung by Janis Joplin 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 bandana, 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's 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's 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 La la la, la la la la, la la la, la la la la La la la la la Bobby McGee La la la la la, la la la la la La la la la la, Bobby McGee, la La La la, la la la la la la, La La la la la la la la la, hey now Bobby now Bobby McGee yeah Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na na na na Hey now Bobby now, Bobby McGee, yeah Lord, I'm calling my lover, calling my man, I said I'm calling my lover just the best I can, C'mon, where is Bobby now, where is Bobby McGee, yeah, Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord! Yeah! Whew! Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee

• published: 17 Nov 2010
• views: 4326