Mercedes Benz (song)

"Mercedes Benz" is an a cappella song written by the American singer Janis Joplin with Bob Neuwirth and the poet Michael McClure.

[1] The song's lyrics were written down at Vahsen's, a Port Chester, New York bar, on August 8, 1970, during an impromptu poetry jam between Joplin and songwriter Bob Neuwirth.

[3] In her memoir Just Kids, Patti Smith talked about the famous trip to Vahsen's and revealed that the esteemed group were also joined on the drinking session by Torn's wife Geraldine Page.

[4] Smith recalled that Joplin started reciting, “Oh, Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz” – the first line of McClure’s poem.

[5] In the song, Joplin asks God to prove his love for her by buying her a Mercedes-Benz automobile, a color TV (then a luxury item), and a "night on the town."