Busted flat in Baton Rouge, I headed for the trains Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans Bobby thumbed a diesel down, well just before it rained Took us all the way to New Orleans
I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna And was blowin' sad while Bobby sang the blues And with the windshield whippers slappin' time And Bobby clappin' hands we finally sang up every song that driver knew
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free Now feeling good was easy Lord when Bobby sang the blues And buddy that was good enough for me Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
From the coal mines of Kentucky to the California sun Bobby shared the secrets of my soul Standin' right beside me Lord through everything I done And every night she kept me from the cold
Then somewhere near Salinas Lord I let her slip away Looking for the home I hope she'll find And I'd trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday Holdin' Bobby's body next to mine