#Song Lyric Sunday – Pearl

 

For today’s Song Lyric prompt – Diamond/Emerald/Jade/Pearl/Ruby/Sapphire – there was never any question that I would feature Janis Joplin’s album “Pearl“.  The album was released in 1971, three months after her death from an accidental heroin overdose.  It includes the song she is probably best known for:  Me and Bobby McGee, which rose to the top of the charts in March 1971.

I’m not sure why the album was called Pearl, because if there was a girl less likely to wear pearls, I can’t think of one.  Janis didn’t have what was considered the classic beauty of the 50s and she was bullied in high school for having acne, being overweight, etc.  She rebelled and tried to “own” who she was as shown in this excerpt from the Daily Texan, the campus newspaper of the university she briefly attended :

“She goes barefooted when she feels like it, wears Levis to class because they’re more comfortable, and carries her autoharp with her everywhere she goes so that in case she gets the urge to break into song, it will be handy. Her name is Janis Joplin.”

There is something raw, pure and a little heart-wrenching about Janis’ music that, despite her tough-girl attitude, breaks open her vulnerability. I think that’s why my favourite Janis song is “Piece of My Heart”. It isn’t on the Pearl album, but I’m including it in this post for your listening pleasure.   Happy Easter everyone!

Me & Bobby McGee
Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the train
Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained
Took us all the way to New Orleans

I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
I was blowin’ sad while Bobby sang the blues
With them windshield wipers slappin’ time and Bobby clappin’ hands
We finally sang off every song that driver knew

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but it’s free
Feelin’ good was easy, Lord when Bobby sang the blues
Feelin’ good 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 through everything I done
And every night she kept me from the cold

Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
Lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find
And I’d trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday
Holdin’ Bobby’s next close to mine

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but it’s free
Feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
Feelin’ good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee

La-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la, me and Bobby McGee, yeah
La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la, me and Bobby McGee

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Fred L. Foster / Kris Kristofferson

Me and Bobby McGee lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Piece of My Heart

Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on!
Didn’t I make you feel like you were the only man -yeah!
Didn’t I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can?
Honey, you know I did!
And each time I tell myself that I, well I think I’ve had enough,
But I’m gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough.
I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it,
Take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Oh, oh, break it!
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, oh, have a!
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby,
You know you got it if it makes you feel good,
Oh, yes indeed.
You’re out on the streets looking good,
And baby deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain’t right,
Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night,
Babe, I cry all the time!
And each time I tell myself that I, well I can’t stand the pain,
But when you hold me in your arms, I’ll sing it once again.
I’ll say come on, come on, come on, come on and take it!
Take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby.
Oh, oh, break it!
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah,
Oh, oh, have a!
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby,
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good.
I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it,
Take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Oh, oh, break it!
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c’monnow.
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby.
You know you got it -whoahhhhh!!
Take it!
Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby,
Oh, oh, break it!
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey,
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good.

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jerry Ragovoy / Bert Berns

Piece Of My Heart lyrics © Unichappell Music Inc., Sony/atv Songs Llc, Livingsting Music, Scikron Music Publishing, Sloopy Ii Music Inc., Publisher Unknown