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The Story Behind Janis Joplin’s ‘Mercedes Benz’
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-story-behind-janis-joplins-mercedes-benz-1436282817Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz” was an accident. The song’s lyrics were written at a Port Chester, N.Y., bar in August 1970 during an impromptu poetry jam between Joplin and songwriter-friend Bob Neuwirth. The lyrics—a sardonic prayer for a sports car, a color TV and a night on the town—were inspired by the first line of a song written by San Francisco beat poet Michael McClure.
About an hour after the song was completed in Port Chester, Joplin performed it a cappella on a whim when she took the stage at the town’s Capitol Theatre. Then on Oct. 1, when she was in Los Angeles recording her album “Pearl,” she sang “Mercedes Benz” in the studio for fun. After she died of a drug overdose three days later on Oct. 4, the song was added to the album.
One of my songs started, “Come on, God, and buy me a Mercedes Benz.” The song would get longer and shorter each time I sang it. One day I got a call from (actor-singer) Emmett Grogan. He had heard me sing the song at my house and began singing it with his friends at a local pool hall. On the phone, he said he was shooting pool with Janis and that she was singing it, too. I told him I had nothing against that....
Mr. McClure: At some point in August 1970, Janis called. She said she was performing the “Mercedes Benz” song but that hers was different than mine. She sang it over the phone. When she was done, I said it was OK. Then I went for my autoharp and sat on the stairs and sang her mine over the phone. Janis’s version was sweet and wry and had the grace of a riddle. Mine was much more outspoken, funny and ironic. Janis laughed and said she liked hers better. I said, “That’s OK, you can sing yours.” And that’s the last I heard of it until “Pearl” came out and I saw my name with Janis’s on the song credit. (Mr. Neuwirth’s name was added later).
About an hour after the song was completed in Port Chester, Joplin performed it a cappella on a whim when she took the stage at the town’s Capitol Theatre. Then on Oct. 1, when she was in Los Angeles recording her album “Pearl,” she sang “Mercedes Benz” in the studio for fun. After she died of a drug overdose three days later on Oct. 4, the song was added to the album.
One of my songs started, “Come on, God, and buy me a Mercedes Benz.” The song would get longer and shorter each time I sang it. One day I got a call from (actor-singer) Emmett Grogan. He had heard me sing the song at my house and began singing it with his friends at a local pool hall. On the phone, he said he was shooting pool with Janis and that she was singing it, too. I told him I had nothing against that....
Mr. McClure: At some point in August 1970, Janis called. She said she was performing the “Mercedes Benz” song but that hers was different than mine. She sang it over the phone. When she was done, I said it was OK. Then I went for my autoharp and sat on the stairs and sang her mine over the phone. Janis’s version was sweet and wry and had the grace of a riddle. Mine was much more outspoken, funny and ironic. Janis laughed and said she liked hers better. I said, “That’s OK, you can sing yours.” And that’s the last I heard of it until “Pearl” came out and I saw my name with Janis’s on the song credit. (Mr. Neuwirth’s name was added later).
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Love me some Janis 