# Nothin' aint worth nothin', but its free **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 29, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619 "2004-01-29T19:17:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/1 "2004-01-29T19:17:42Z")
Uh…what is the source of this lyric?? ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/2 "2004-01-29T19:20:54Z")
“Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson, memorably covered by Janis Joplin. ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/3 "2004-01-29T19:35:59Z")
> [@Rube E. Tewesday](#): > > “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson, memorably covered by Janis Joplin. [Nothin’ don’t mean nothin, hon if it ain’t free](http://www.ivory.org/lyrics/menbobby.html) Almost, but not quite. ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/4 "2004-01-29T19:40:47Z")
> [@Matchka](#): > > [Nothin’ don’t mean nothin, hon if it ain’t free](http://www.ivory.org/lyrics/menbobby.html) > > Almost, but not quite. My appologies, **Rube** Never mind…it’s from the [Kristopherson version](http://www.elyrics.net/go/k/Kris_Kristofferson/Me_And_Bobby_Mcgee/) . ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/5 "2004-01-29T19:55:36Z")
> [@Matchka](#): > > [Kristopherson version](http://www.elyrics.net/go/k/Kris_Kristofferson/Me_And_Bobby_Mcgee/) . Something tells me that site isn’t very accurate. “Butterflied in Maton Rouge”? ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/6 "2004-01-29T19:56:19Z")
> [@Matchka](#): > > My appologies, **Rube** > > Never mind…it’s from the [Kristopherson version](http://www.elyrics.net/go/k/Kris_Kristofferson/Me_And_Bobby_Mcgee/) . Not a problem. Like I said, the Joplin version was memorable. The way I heard it, Kris was working for a song-writing company in Nashville. Somebody at the company suggested he write a song about their secretary, Bobby McKee. Kris heard the name, wrong, though, and the rest is history. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/7 "2004-01-29T19:58:09Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Something tells me that site isn’t very accurate. “Butterflied in Maton Rouge”? Yeah, looks like that guy was transcribing from a very bad memory. Google a bit more for a decent version would be my advice. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/8 "2004-01-29T22:14:56Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Something tells me that site isn’t very accurate. “Butterflied in Maton Rouge”? Try “Busted flat in Baton Rouge…” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/9 "2004-01-29T22:17:26Z")
I’ve always thought of it as Gordon Lightfoot cover, **Rube**. I don’t think I’ve heard the Joplin cover. According to this [Lightfoot fan site](http://www.corfid.com/gl/Albums/If_You_Could_Read_My_Mind/Me_And_Bobby_McGee.htm), the opening line is “Busted flat in Baton Rouge.” ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/10 "2004-01-30T02:11:11Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > I’ve always thought of it as Gordon Lightfoot cover, **Rube**. I don’t think I’ve heard the Joplin cover. According to this [Lightfoot fan site](http://www.corfid.com/gl/Albums/If_You_Could_Read_My_Mind/Me_And_Bobby_McGee.htm), the opening line is “Busted flat in Baton Rouge.” Pretty much everyone has covered it, **Northern** , but seek out the Joplin one. Try it at a high rate of volume, accompanied by Jack Daniels, straight up. Report back. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/11 "2004-01-31T00:27:49Z")
Considering that it’s Janice, I think it’s required that it be Southern Comfort. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/12 "2004-01-31T03:35:51Z")
**Rube** thinks everything goes better with Jack Daniels. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/13 "2004-01-31T13:11:43Z")
Call it a weakness. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/14 "2004-01-31T16:50:24Z")
Gordon Lightfoot??? Never heard JANIS??? Oh god I am old old old. Maybe it is possible to live too long. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nothin-aint-worth-nothin-but-its-free/226619/15 "2004-02-01T04:19:54Z")
Oh, don’t feel bad, **kayT** - growing up in Canada during a certain period, with an interest in folk music, Lightfoot was IT. Them furrin singers from down south just didn’t catch my attention.