Oh Lord, Won’t you Buy Me a Mercedes Benz?
Janis’s last message never was so important as it is today
Janis Joplin's First Line in The Mercedes Song:
“I’d like to do a song of a great social and poetical import.” Janis Joplin’s ‘Mercedes Benz,’ 1970.
This is how she begins her last recorded song for an album. She died from an overdose three days after that recording session, and that last song, which was not on the script, became truly memorable.
Oh Lord, Won’t you Buy Me a Mercedes Benz?
But have you ever imagined how it would be if, let us say, Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat actor) sang that song dressed as a preacher, or as an Instagram ‘gratitude’ influencer today? Not only people would believe he is really asking God for such things, but some of them would also pray for the same reasons.
The song, however, was speaking about how plutocracy (social-economic system ruled by the wealthy) and happiness were getting too close (already). It was part of social relationships, and every modern artist should notice it at some point.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
And plutocracy could influence people’s beliefs, too. Why not?
I’m counting on you, Lord, please don’t let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round.
On God's Must Requested Car
I really don’t understand how people can mix faith and capitalism in so many ways. It’s pretty much easy to find people who think “leftism is naïve,” but many of them also think that God is going to give them a car because they are “worthy” without even questioning it.
This article, however, was not written to question your belief in God, or in capitalism. It’s true that there is dirty money, although not every money is dirt, but should money really rule everything? Please let me know what you think about it in the comments.
How, when, and where the song was written:
During her tour in New York, Joplin was having some fun with her friends Bob Neuwirth, Geraldine Page, and Rip Torn (Geraldine’s husband).
“At the Port Chester bar, Janis sang the line a few times. Then Rip and Geraldine began banging their beer glasses on the table to keep time. It was like a sea shanty. Janis came up with words for the first verse (‘Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz’). I was in charge of writing them down on bar napkins with a ballpoint pen. She came up with the second verse, too, about a color TV. I suggested words here and there, and came up with the third verse — about asking the Lord to buy us a night on the town and another round.” Bob Neuwirth interview for the Wall Street Journal, 2015.
