Rock, Folk

Me and Bobby McGee Chords

Janis Joplin Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 4 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · A

Me and Bobby McGee Chords – Guitar

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Me and Bobby McGee"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and A.

Is "Me and Bobby McGee" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Me and Bobby McGee" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee"?

It was written by Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and released in 1971.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · A

Me and Bobby McGee Chords – Ukulele

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Me and Bobby McGee"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and A.

Is "Me and Bobby McGee" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Me and Bobby McGee" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee"?

It was written by Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and released in 1971.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · A

Me and Bobby McGee Chords – Piano

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Me and Bobby McGee"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and A.

Is "Me and Bobby McGee" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Me and Bobby McGee" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee"?

It was written by Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and released in 1971.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · A

Me and Bobby McGee Chords – Banjo

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Me and Bobby McGee"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and A.

Is "Me and Bobby McGee" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Me and Bobby McGee" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee"?

It was written by Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and released in 1971.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · A

Me and Bobby McGee Chords – Mandolin

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Me and Bobby McGee"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and A.

Is "Me and Bobby McGee" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Me and Bobby McGee" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee"?

It was written by Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and released in 1971.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Atap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · A

Me and Bobby McGee Chords – Harmonica

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Me and Bobby McGee"?

You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: G, C, D and A.

Is "Me and Bobby McGee" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Me and Bobby McGee" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee"?

It was written by Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, and released in 1971.