Countryklassieker du jour: Me And Bobby McGee

Iedereen kent dit melancholieke liefdesliedje in de versie van Janis Joplin, maar die haalt het niet bij deze prachtige stripped down vertolking door de schrijver zélf. De stem van Kris is er in de loop der jaren niet op vooruit gegaan, maar zijn met whiskey doordrenkte stemgeluid past beter bij de song dan Joplin’s gekrijs.  En uiteraard bevat de song met I’d trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday en Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose twee van de mooiste regels uit de country-muziek.

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for the trains,
Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,
Took us all the way to New Orleans.
Took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
And was blowin’ sad while Bobby sang the blues,
With them windshield wipers 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,
And nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free,
Feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues,
And buddy, that was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

From the coalmines of Kentucky to the California sun,
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul,
Standin’ right beside me through everythin’ I done,
And every night she kept me from the cold.
Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away,
She was lookin’ for the home I hope she’ll find,
Well I’d trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday,
Holdin’ Bobby’s body close to mine.

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose,
And nothin’ left was all she left to me,
Feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues,
And buddy, that was good enough for me.
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee.