Janis Joplin's Cry Baby (1971): A Classic Rock Favorite

Cry Baby is a song originally recorded by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters in 1963. Janis Joplin covered the song in 1970 and included it in her posthumously released album, "Pearl." Joplin's emotional and powerful rendition of the song, filled with her signature bluesy vocals, helped solidify its status as one of her most iconic and memorable performances.

_{📷 Janis Joplin's Pearl Vinyl}

1. Written by Bert Berns: "Cry Baby" was not originally penned by Janis Joplin. It was written by Bert Berns, a prolific songwriter and producer, along with Jerry Ragovoy. The song was originally recorded by Garnet Mimms in 1963 and became a hit in the R&B and pop charts. Joplin's rendition of "Cry Baby" added her unique bluesy and soulful touch, making it one of her signature songs.

2. Prominent Use of the Wurlitzer Electric Piano: In Joplin's version of "Cry Baby," there is a distinctive and captivating sound of a Wurlitzer electric piano, played by keyboardist Richard Bell. This instrument's distinctive timbre added a layer of depth and emotion to the song, contributing to its memorable sound. The Wurlitzer electric piano became synonymous with Joplin's music during her time with the Full Tilt Boogie Band.

3. Part of the Posthumous Album "Pearl": "Cry Baby" was featured on Janis Joplin's posthumous album "Pearl," which was released in 1971, several months after her untimely death. The album became a massive success and is considered one of her greatest works. "Pearl" also includes other iconic tracks like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Mercedes Benz," cementing Joplin's legacy as one of the most influential and talented artists of her era.

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 walk 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 baby.

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.