“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose…” “Me and Bobby McGee” was a No. 1 hit for Janis Joplin, but it was written and first recorded by Kris Kristofferson, who performs it here with his then-wife, singer Rita Coolidge, in 1978. | Legacy Recordings

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose. 🤘 📸: Getty Images. | Janis Joplin

“The line ‘Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose,’ expressed the double edged sword that freedom is: you may be free, but it can be painful to be that free.” -Kris Kristofferson, songwriter of “Me and Bobby McGee” On this day in ‘71, “Me and Bobby McGee” hit #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart! The fan-favorite single remained at the top of the charts for 2 weeks. Janis’ rendition of the hit stuck with fans for many years and became one of her most popular hits. | Janis Joplin