While many countries allow hitchhiking, most areas of the United States have strict laws against attempting to solicit a ride from a stranger. Today, hitchhiking is frowned upon in the U.S., though. So when Joplin sings that she's as faded as the color of her jeans, it's another way of saying, "Man, I'm beat."īack in Janis' day, hitchhiking was a common way for hippies to travel, especially across long distances through rural areas where public transportation might be expensive or nonexistent. But "Beat" had other implications as well, suggesting that these were people who were "beat" down by society, or "just beat," as in tired, probably from having stayed up all night writing and perhaps consuming lots of alcohol and other drugs. ![]() In hippie-speak, it was a way of saying, "Hey, man, I dig your cause."Īnother thing to think about is that culture at that time was greatly influenced by a somewhat modern trend in literature coming from writers from the '50s and '60s that were part of the " Beat generation." The name "Beat" was chosen perhaps as a reference to the rhythmic style of their stream-of-consciousness way of writing, which was greatly influenced by the jazz music of the time. The fact that it was stylish to have faded jeans was a way of identifying with those of the poorer working class, the struggling Americans. But the fact is that a lot of these young people came from wealthy families and could afford a new pair of Levi's if they really wanted. It is possible that some hippies simply couldn't afford new jeans their old ones faded in time, or they inherited some hand-me-downs. ![]() It's such a staple of modern fashion that it's strange to think they exist for any other reason than style, but the reason they have become stylish in the first place is because of the hippies. Tie-dyed shirts were perhaps a tribute to the psychedelic drugs people were experimenting with at the time, which often rendered colors especially vivid, and perhaps it was also a celebration of difference-the acceptance of all colors, or all different kinds of people.Īnd why did they wear faded jeans? Jeans fade on their own, of course, but nowadays we buy them pre-faded. The long hair symbolized a freedom from society's gender restrictions, as well as its rigid, dogmatic way of life. E7 E7 E7 E7 La da da da da da da, la da da da da, E7 E7 A A La da da da me and Bobby McGee.The typical hippie outfit-which could be seen on Janis Joplin almost constantly-often included one or more of the following: faded jeans, big sunglasses, long, untamed hair, tie-dyed shirts, a bandana, maybe some beads, and a good ol' pair of boots.Ĭlothes can tell you a lot about a culture or youth movement, and for the hippies in the 1960s, clothes were an especially vital part of the rebellion. E7 E7 E7 E7 La da da da da da da da la da da da da, E7 E7 A A La da da da me and Bobby McGee A A A A La da da, la da, la da da da da da da da A A E7 E7 La da da da me and Bobby McGee. A A A A La da da, la da, la da da da da da da A A E7 E7 La da da da me and Bobby McGee. E7 E7 E7 E7 Buddy, that was good enough for me, E7 E7 A A Good enough for me and Bobby McGee. D D A A Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues. E7 E7 A A Nothin' left is all she left for me. ![]() D D A A Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. D D A A And I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday E7 E7 E7 E7 holdin' Bobby's body next to mine. A A A A Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away A A7 D D Lookin' for the home and I hope she'll find. E7 E7 E7 E7 Standin' right beside me, Lord, through everything I'd done, E7 E7 A A Every night she kept me from the cold. A A A A From the coal mines of Kentuckyto the California sun A A E7 E7 Bobby shared the secrets of my soul. D7 D7 D7 D7 Feelin' good was good enough for me, D7 D7 G G A A Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee. C C G G Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues. D7 D7 G G Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free. C C G G With them windshield wipers slappin' time and Bobby clappin' time, we fin'lly D7 D7 D7 D7 Sang up every song that driver knew C C G G Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. G G G G I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana G G7 C C And was playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues. ![]() D7 D7 G - C G Took us all the way into New Orleans. DO NOT SHOW ADS G - C G - C G - C G - C G G G G Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin' for a train G G D7 D7 feelin' near as faded as my jeans, D7 D7 D7 D7 Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained.
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