Uploaded July 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Janis Joplin wrote "Mercedes Benz" together with the poet Michael McClure and Bob Neuwirth, as a critical social commentary on how people relate happiness to money and material possessions. The song was originally written as something of a negative commentary about materialistic individuals who place too much value on items like a Mercedes-Benz. The song heavily reflects Joplin's view of what she saw as a materialistic world.
The song was recorded in one take. "Mercedes Benz" (along with a couple of rowdy verses of "Happy Birthday", sung for John Lennon) were recorded on October 1, 1970, and were the last songs Joplin ever recorded; she died on October 4th.
Janis Joplin wrote "Mercedes Benz" together with the poet Michael McClure and Bob Neuwirth, as a critical social commentary on how people relate happiness to money and material possessions. The song was originally written as something of a negative commentary about materialistic individuals who place too much value on items like a Mercedes-Benz. The song heavily reflects Joplin's view of what she saw as a materialistic world.
The song was recorded in one take. "Mercedes Benz" (along with a couple of rowdy verses of "Happy Birthday", sung for John Lennon) were recorded on October 1, 1970, and were the last songs Joplin ever recorded; she died on October 4th.
