Rock, Folk

Bobby McGee Chords

Janis Joplin Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

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Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s iconic, free-spirited anthem about love, loss, and the open road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a relaxed, storytelling feel, so don’t rush the strumming pattern.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

G C

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained

G

Took us all the way to New Orleans

Verse 2

G C

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

G C

Windshield wipers slappin’ time, I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine

G

We sang every song that driver knew

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

G C

Standin’ right beside me, Lord, through everythin’ I done

G

And every night she kept me from the cold

Verse 4

G C

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

G

Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

G C

And I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

Holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Bridge

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Outro

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

G C

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah

D G

Feelin’ good was good enough for me, hey now

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G-C-D chord progression is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords cleanly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s iconic, free-spirited anthem about love, loss, and the open road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a relaxed, storytelling feel, so don’t rush the strumming pattern.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

G C

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained

G

Took us all the way to New Orleans

Verse 2

G C

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

G C

Windshield wipers slappin’ time, I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine

G

We sang every song that driver knew

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

G C

Standin’ right beside me, Lord, through everythin’ I done

G

And every night she kept me from the cold

Verse 4

G C

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

G

Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

G C

And I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

Holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Bridge

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Outro

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

G C

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah

D G

Feelin’ good was good enough for me, hey now

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G-C-D chord progression is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords cleanly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s iconic, free-spirited anthem about love, loss, and the open road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a relaxed, storytelling feel, so don’t rush the strumming pattern.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

G C

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained

G

Took us all the way to New Orleans

Verse 2

G C

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

G C

Windshield wipers slappin’ time, I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine

G

We sang every song that driver knew

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

G C

Standin’ right beside me, Lord, through everythin’ I done

G

And every night she kept me from the cold

Verse 4

G C

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

G

Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

G C

And I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

Holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Bridge

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Outro

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

G C

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah

D G

Feelin’ good was good enough for me, hey now

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G-C-D chord progression is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords cleanly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s iconic, free-spirited anthem about love, loss, and the open road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a relaxed, storytelling feel, so don’t rush the strumming pattern.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

G C

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained

G

Took us all the way to New Orleans

Verse 2

G C

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

G C

Windshield wipers slappin’ time, I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine

G

We sang every song that driver knew

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

G C

Standin’ right beside me, Lord, through everythin’ I done

G

And every night she kept me from the cold

Verse 4

G C

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

G

Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

G C

And I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

Holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Bridge

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Outro

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

G C

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah

D G

Feelin’ good was good enough for me, hey now

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G-C-D chord progression is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords cleanly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s iconic, free-spirited anthem about love, loss, and the open road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a relaxed, storytelling feel, so don’t rush the strumming pattern.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

G C

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained

G

Took us all the way to New Orleans

Verse 2

G C

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

G C

Windshield wipers slappin’ time, I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine

G

We sang every song that driver knew

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

G C

Standin’ right beside me, Lord, through everythin’ I done

G

And every night she kept me from the cold

Verse 4

G C

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

G

Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

G C

And I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

Holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Bridge

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Outro

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

G C

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah

D G

Feelin’ good was good enough for me, hey now

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G-C-D chord progression is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords cleanly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s iconic, free-spirited anthem about love, loss, and the open road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a relaxed, storytelling feel, so don’t rush the strumming pattern.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

G C

Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained

G

Took us all the way to New Orleans

Verse 2

G C

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

G C

Windshield wipers slappin’ time, I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine

G

We sang every song that driver knew

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Yeah, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

G C

Standin’ right beside me, Lord, through everythin’ I done

G

And every night she kept me from the cold

Verse 4

G C

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away

G

Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find

G C

And I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

Holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Chorus

C G

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, don’t mean nothin’ honey if it ain’t free, now now

C G

And feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

D G

You know, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Bridge

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Em C

La la la, la la la la, la la la, Bobby McGee yeah

Outro

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

G C

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose

D G

Nothin’, that’s all that Bobby left me, yeah

D G

Feelin’ good was good enough for me, hey now

D G

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G-C-D chord progression is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords cleanly before adding the lyrics.