PIECE OF MY HEART

Piece of My Heart is a song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns and originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967. The song came to greater mainstream attention when Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company covered the song in 1968 on their album Cheap Thrills and had a hit with it. The song has since been remade by several singers, including hit versions by Faith Hill in 1994 and Beverley Knight in 2006. In 2004, the Big Brother and the Holding Company version of this song was ranked #344 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is also included among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Franklin said in an interview that when she first heard Joplin's version on the radio, she didn't recognize it because of the vocal arrangement. Noted cultural writer Ellen Willis wrote of the difference: "When Franklin sings it, it is a challenge: no matter what you do to me, I will not let you destroy my ability to be human, to love. Joplin seems rather to be saying, surely if I keep taking this, if I keep setting an example of love and forgiveness, surely he has to understand, change, give me back what I have given". In such a way, Joplin used blues conventions not to transcend pain, but "to scream it out of existence".

[Intro] Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on [Verse 1] Didn't I make you feel like you were the only man? Yeah An' didn't I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can? Honey, you know I did [Pre-Chorus] And, and each time I tell myself that I, well I think I've had enough But I'm gonna, gonna show you baby, that a woman can be tough I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it [Chorus] Take another little piece of my heart now, baby Oh, oh, break it Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, oh, have a Have another little piece of my heart now, baby Well you know you got it, if it makes you feel good Oh, yes indeed [Verse 2] You're out on the streets looking good And baby deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain't right Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night Babe and I cry all the time [Pre-Chorus] But each time I tell myself that I, well I can't stand the pain But when you hold me in your arms, I'll sing it once again I'll say come on, come on, come on, come on and take it [Chorus] Take another little piece of my heart now, baby Oh, oh, break it Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah Oh, oh, have a Have another little piece of my heart now, baby Well you know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it Take another little piece of my heart now, baby Oh, oh, break it Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c'mon now Oh, oh, have a Have another little piece of my heart now, baby You know you got it - Waaaaah! [Outro] Take it, take another little piece of my heart now, baby Oh, oh, break it Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, oh, have a Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good