"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by Roger Miller.

[2] The suggestion for the title was a cordial challenge from producer and Monument Records founder Fred Foster to Kris Kristofferson.

The titular character was named for a studio secretary, Barbara "Bobbie" McKee, but Kristofferson had misheard her surname.

He explained that he was trying to convey the despair of the last scene of Federico Fellini's La Strada in which a broken, war-torn, inebriated man (played by Anthony Quinn) stares up from the beach at the night's stars, and breaks down sobbing.

The pair hitch a ride from a truck driver and sing as they drive through the American South before making their way westward.

[4] Kenny Rogers and the First Edition recorded the song in May/June 1969, and released it on their album Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town in 1969.

Later that year, his version of the song appeared in Monte Hellman's psychedelic road movie Two-Lane Blacktop.