Rock, Folk

Me and Bobby McGee Chords

Janis Joplin Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

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Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · A

Janis Joplin’s signature song about freedom, loss, and life on the road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match Janis’s original key of Bb, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes as written.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

Em 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 bandanna

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Em 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

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

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 Verse

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Final Chorus

C G

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

D G

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

C G

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

D G

Hey, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me, yeah now

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G to C and D to G transitions are the most common; practice switching between these chords without pausing your strumming hand to keep the song flowing.

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 signature song about freedom, loss, and life on the road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match Janis’s original key of Bb, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes as written.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

Em 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 bandanna

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Em 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

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

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 Verse

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Final Chorus

C G

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

D G

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

C G

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

D G

Hey, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me, yeah now

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G to C and D to G transitions are the most common; practice switching between these chords without pausing your strumming hand to keep the song flowing.

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 signature song about freedom, loss, and life on the road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match Janis’s original key of Bb, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes as written.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

Em 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 bandanna

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Em 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

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

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 Verse

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Final Chorus

C G

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

D G

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

C G

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

D G

Hey, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me, yeah now

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G to C and D to G transitions are the most common; practice switching between these chords without pausing your strumming hand to keep the song flowing.

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 signature song about freedom, loss, and life on the road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match Janis’s original key of Bb, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes as written.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

Em 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 bandanna

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Em 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

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

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 Verse

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Final Chorus

C G

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

D G

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

C G

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

D G

Hey, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me, yeah now

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G to C and D to G transitions are the most common; practice switching between these chords without pausing your strumming hand to keep the song flowing.

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 signature song about freedom, loss, and life on the road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match Janis’s original key of Bb, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes as written.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

Em 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 bandanna

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Em 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

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

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 Verse

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Final Chorus

C G

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

D G

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

C G

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

D G

Hey, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me, yeah now

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G to C and D to G transitions are the most common; practice switching between these chords without pausing your strumming hand to keep the song flowing.

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 signature song about freedom, loss, and life on the road. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 3rd fret to match Janis’s original key of Bb, but play the G, C, D, and Em shapes as written.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains

G

Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans

Em 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 bandanna

G

I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Verse 3

G C

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun

G

Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Em 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

Em 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, no no

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

Em C

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 Verse

G C

I’d give all my tomorrows for a single yesterday

G

To be holdin’ Bobby’s body next to mine

Final Chorus

C G

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

D G

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

C G

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

D G

Hey, feelin’ good was good e-nough for me, yeah now

Em C

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

Practice tip: The G to C and D to G transitions are the most common; practice switching between these chords without pausing your strumming hand to keep the song flowing.