Soul Rock

The song “Piece of My Heart” was written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns. Erma Frankly, Aretha Franklin’s younger sister, sang the original version. It’s a powerful song, and the version by Janis Joplin and Big Brother & The Holding Company is a powerful performance. ometimes love can do strange things to you — and even make you willing to break off another little piece of your heart for the one you love.  It went to on the R&B Chart in 1967. (And it charted again in 1992 in the U.K., as it was used in a Levi’s jeans commercial.) “Piece of My Heart” by Big Brother & The Holding Company with Janis Joplin on lead vocal went to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. The single was taken from the album Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company. Joplin sang this at Woodstock as part of her encore in 1969. Their version is on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” It is also on the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.” The song has been covered in different ways by a number of artists, including Sammy Hagar, Shaggy, a duet by Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone, Faith Hill, Jenny Morris, and Beverly Knight.

Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1943. She moved to San Francisco in 1966 and then joined Big Brother & The Holding Company. She left to pursue a solo career in 1968. She died of a heroin overdose in 1970 at the age of 27. Big Brother and The Holding Company formed in San Francisco around 1965 and were part of the psychedelic rock scene, which included such bands as The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Airplane. The group originally was Peter Albin, Sam Andrew, James Gurley, Chuck Jones. Of course, membership has changed over the years, and they continue to perform.

Here are the lyrics to “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin:

“Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on

Didn’t I make you feel like you were the only man? Yeah
An’ didn’t I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can?
Honey, you know I did
And, and each time I tell myself that I, well I think I’ve had enough
But I’m gonna, gonna show you baby, that a woman can be tough

I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Well you know you got it, if it makes you feel good
Oh, yes indeed

You’re out on the streets looking good
And baby deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain’t right
Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night
Babe and I cry all the time
But each time I tell myself that I, well I can’t stand the pain
But when you hold me in your arms, I’ll sing it once again

I’ll say come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Well you know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good

I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c’mon now
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it

Take it, take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good”

If you are interested in reading about and listening to other songs by Janis Joplin: “Mercedes Benz” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 40+ songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Piece of My Heart” by Big Brother & The Holding Company with Janis Joplin.