Me and Bobby McGee chords
by Janis JoplinSong Key: G Major with a key change to A Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 94 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Beginner 🟢
Chords: G, Gadd4, G7, A, A7, C, D, D7, E, E7
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Me and Bobby McGee
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
G Gadd4 G Gadd4 G
Intro: 4/4 ‖ | ‖
G
1. Bust-ed flat in Bat-on Rouge Waiting for a train
D
And I's feeling near as faded as my jeans
Bob-by thumbed a die-sel down Just be-fore it rained
G Gadd4 G
It rode us all the way to New Or - | leans |
G
I pulled my har-poon out of my di-rty red ban-dan-na
G7 C
I was play-ing soft while Bob-by sang the blues
C G
Wind-shield wip-ers slap-ping time I was hold-ing Bob-by's hand in mine
D D7
We sang ev'-ry song that driv-er knew
C G
Chorus: Free-dom's just a-no-ther word for no-thing left to lose
D7 G
Noth-ing don't mean noth-ing honey if it ain't free no no
C G
And feel-ing good was ea-sy Lord when he sang the blues
D
You know feel-ing good was good en-ough for me
G A
Good e-nough for me and my Bob-by Mc-Gee... |(key change)|
A
2. From the Ken-tuck-y coal mine to the Cal-i-for-nia sun
E
Hey Bob-by shared the sec-rets of my soul
Through all kinds of weath-er through ev’-ry-thing we done
A
Hey Bob-by ba-by kept me from the cold
A
One day up near Sa-li-nas Lord I let him slip a-way
A7 D
He's look-ing for that home and I hope he finds it
D A
But I'd trade all of my to-mor-rows for one sing-le yes-ter-day
E E7
To be hold-ing Bob-by's bo-dy next to mine
D A
Chorus: Freed-om is just a-noth-er word for noth-ing left to lose
E7 A
No-thing that's all that Bob-by left me yeah
D A
But feel-ing good was ea-sy Lord when he sang the blues
E7
Hey feel-ing good was good e-nough for me hmm hmm
A
Good e-nough for me and my Bob-by Mc-Gee
A
3. La da da la da da la da da la da da da
E
La da da la da da Bob-by Mc-Gee
La da da da da da La na na na na
A
La la la la la la Bob-by Mc-Gee yeah
A
4. La na na la na la la na la la na na La na na la na na la na na
E
Hey now Bob–by lo-na Bob-by Mc-Gee yeah
Lo-na Lo-la-la lo-na-na Lo-na-na lo-na-na lo-na-na lo-na-na lo-na-na
A
Hey now Bob-by lo - na Bob-by Mc-Gee yeah
A
5. Lord I'm cal-ling my lov-er call-ing my man
I said I'm call-ing my lov-er just the best I can
E
C'mon hey now Bob-by yeah hey now Bob-by Mc-Gee yeah
Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lord
A
Hey hey hey Bob-by Mc-Gee Lord
A E A
Instr: | | % | % | | % | % | % | |
A E
| | % | % | |
(Lordy)
E
(Lordy) Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lor-dy Lord
A
Hey hey hey Bob-by Mc - | Gee yeah |...Arrangement Details:
- Key Signature: G Major: 1 sharp (F#)
- Key Signature: A Major: 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#)
- Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Moderately slow
- Metronome: ♩ = 94
- Voice Range: F#4 - E6
- In the Intro, the Gadd4 chord represents GaddC. You simply play a G chord using fingers 2, 3, and 4, and add the C note with your first finger (first fret, 2nd string). You don't have to play the chord, but it does add a nice touch.
- You may want to add 7th and sus4 versions of chords, e.g., in the Instrumental section at the end of the song. This can help make the song sound a little more interesting, especially if you are playing solo. Instead of playing the same chord for several bars, you might consider the following:
Instead of: | A | A | A | E | Play: | A - A7 | A - Asus4 | A - A7 | E |
- | E | E | E | E | can also have been written as | E | % | % | % | where the repeat sign % signifies a repeat of the previous bar.
Song Details:
- Songwriter: Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster
- Lyrics Begin: Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train, when I's feelin' near as faded as my jeans.
- Genre: Blues rock, Soul blues
- Featured Artist: Janis Joplin
- Album: Pearl
Recorded: July 27 – October 4, 1970
Released: January 11, 1971 - Single:
Released: January 12, 1971
B-side: Half Moon
Back to 60's Songs
