«Me and Bobby McGee» is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by Roger Miller. Fred Foster shares the writing credit, as Kristofferson intended. A posthumously released version by Janis Joplin topped the U.S. singles chart in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released No. 1 single in U.S. chart history after «(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay» by Otis Redding. Jerry Lee Lewis also released a version reaching number 1 on the country charts in 1971. Billboard ranked Joplin’s version as the No. 11 song for 1971.
In Don McLean’s song «American Pie», he «met a girl who sang the blues», referring to the Janis Joplin version of the song, where she and Bobbie sang the blues. He asks for some happy news from her. However, «she just smiled and turned away», referring to her death in 1970.
From the album Pearl
B-side «Half Moon»
Released January 12, 1971[4]
Recorded September 5 – October 1, 1970
Genre Blues rock, country rock
Length 4:33
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster
Producer(s) Paul A. Rothchild