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
I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
And was blowing sad while Bobby sang the blues
With them windshield wipers slappin’ time and
Bobby clappin’ hands we finally sang up all the songs
That driver knew
Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free
Feeling good was easy Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
Feeling good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee
From the coal mines of Kentucky to the California sun
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Standing right beside me Lord through everything I done
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 my tomorrows for a single yesterday
Holding Bobby’s body next to mine
Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’ left is all she left for me
Feelin’ good was easy Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
Buddy that was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
The words are from Kris Kristofferson’s 1969 song ‘Me and Bobby McGee’, of course. I loved the song ever since I was in high school, and I love the melancholic Kristofferson rendition. Man! Got to listen to that song again, I thought today, as the California sun sat high in the clouds, as my colleague and I made our way down on Highway 101 to Salinas. (We are holding a workshop with some of our target users. They are getting tablets with which to manage their work in the field, and it is very important that we get their feedback).