Tuesday September 7, 2021 “Cry Baby “ Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin, born in Port Arthur, TX and as she grew up was possibly the least popular girl in her high school. Overweight and suffering from acute acne she was constantly derided by her classmates and labeled and meant to feel like a misfit.  There’s an interesting documentary on Janis with a very sad portion where she goes back to Port Arthur for her high school reunion as a superstar.

Even with her new credibility you can see she still suffered from the scars of her difficult high school years.  She was such a sensitive person that she didn’t have the ability or strength to go back to her tormentors with her middle finger raised high.

For all of her stardom, she couldn’t seem to get her personal life in order.  She famously said, “On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone.”  Her offstage insecurities and traumatic childhood likely pushed her into her addiction problems.

This Joplin classic, “Cry Baby” was originally recorded by Garnet Mimms.one of my favorite rock & roll names, who had top ten hit with it in 1963, and it was co-written by Bert Berns.  Yes we will have a Bert Berns week, such an interesting and talented man.

Janis’ “pact” gave her three years of stardom and then the bill came due.

Janis Joplin died October 4, 1970, age 27

Cry baby, cry baby, cry baby

Honey, welcome back home

I know she told you

Honey, I know she told you that she loved you

Much more than I did

But all I know is that she left you

And you swear that you just don't know why

But you know, honey I'll always

I'll always be around

If you ever want me

Come on and cry, cry baby

Cry baby, cry baby

Oh honey, welcome back home

Don't you know

Honey, ain't nobody ever gonna love you

The way I try to do?

Who'll take all your pain

Honey, your heartache, too?

And if you need me, you know

That I'll always be around

If you ever want me

Come on and cry, cry baby

Cry baby, cry baby

Oh daddy, like you always saying to do

And when you're walkin' around the world, babe

You said you'd try to look for the end of the road

You might find out later that the road'll end in Detroit

Honey, the road'll even end in Kathmandu

You can go all around the world

Trying to find something to do with your life, baby

When you only gotta do one thing well

You only gotta do one thing well to make it in this world, babe

You got a woman waiting for you there

All you ever gotta do is be a good man one time to one woman

And that'll be the end of the road, babe

I know you got more tears to share, babe

So come on, come on, come on, come on, come on

And cry, cry baby

Cry baby, cry

And if you ever feel a little lonely, dear

I want you to come on, come on to your mama now

And if you ever want a little love of a woman

Come on and baby, baby, baby, babe, babe, baby now

Cry baby yeah