Watch Janis Joplin's iconic 'Ball And Chain' performance at the Monterey Pop Festival

Janis Joplin’s performance of “Ball And Chain” at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 remains one of the defining moments in rock history. That day, both Janis and Jimi Hendrix became legends. Standing before an audience filled with influential figures of the time, Janis put her heart and soul into every note, ensuring that everyone could feel the depth of emotion behind her voice. The intensity of her singing made it impossible not to connect with the passion and pain she expressed.

Janis Joplin – Ball And Chain – Live at Monterey Pop Festival, 1967.

Backed by Big Brother and the Holding Company, Joplin’s performance left a lasting impact on the crowd. Her vocals blended perfectly with the band’s bluesy, hard-hitting sound, and the raw emotion behind each word was impossible to ignore. The way she threw herself completely into the song made for a truly memorable experience that struck a chord with those watching.

“Ball And Chain” became more than just a performance that night—it was a powerful outpouring of emotion, with Janis giving everything she had. Her presence on stage was striking, leaving no doubt that she was in full control of the moment. It’s rare to witness an artist lay themselves bare in such a way, and Janis did just that, proving she was one of the most unique talents of her generation.

Monterey Pop was a turning point for her career, introducing her to a broader audience. Many who saw that performance will forever remember it as the moment they first experienced the full force of Janis Joplin’s voice and passion.

Lyrics:
Yeah! Alright!

Sittin’ down by my window,
Honey, lookin’ out at the rain.
Lord, Lord, Lord, sittin’ down by my window,
Baby, lookin’ out at the rain.
Somethin’ came along, grabbed a hold of me,
And it felt just like a ball and chain.
Honey, that’s exactly what it felt like,
Honey, just dragging me down.

And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now hon’, tell me why,
Why does every single little tiny thing I hold on goes wrong?
Yeah it all goes wrong, yeah.
And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now babe, tell me why,
Why does every thing, every thing.
Hey, here you gone today, I wanted to love you,
Honey, I just wanted to hold you, I said, for so long,
Yeah! Alright! Hey!

Love’s got a hold on me, baby,
Feels just like a ball and chain.
Now, love’s just draggin’ me down, baby, yeah,
Feels like a ball and chain.
I hope there’s someone out there who could tell me
Why the man I love wanna leave me in so much pain.
Yeah, maybe, maybe you could help me, come on, help me!

And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, now hon’, tell me why,
Now tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me why, yeah.
And I say, oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, when I ask you,
When I need to know why, c’mon tell me why, hey hey hey,
Here you’ve gone today,
I wanted to love you and hold you
Till the day I die.
I said whoa, whoa, whoa!!

And I say oh, whoa, whoa, no honey
It ain’t fair, daddy it ain’t fair what you do,
I see what you’re doin’ to me and you know it ain’t fair.
And I say oh, whoa whoa now baby
It ain’t fair, now, now, now, what you do
I said hon’ it ain’t fair what, hon’ it ain’t fair what you do.
Oh, here you gone today and all I ever wanted to do
Was to love you
Honey an’ I think there can be nothing wrong with that,
Only it ain’t wrong, no, no, no, no, no.

Sittin’ down by my window,
Lookin’ at the rain.
Lord, Lord, Lord, sittin’ down by my window,
Lookin’ at the rain, see the rain.
Somethin’ came along, grabbed a hold of me,
And it felt like a ball and chain.
Oh this can’t be in vain
And I’m gonna tell you one just more time, yeah, yeah!

And I say oh, whoa whoa, now baby
This can’t be, no this can’t be in vain,
And I say no no no no no no no no, whoa!
And I say whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Now now now now now now now now now no no not in vain
Hey, hope there is someone that could tell me
Hon’, tell me why,
Hon’, tell me why love is like
Just like a ball
Just like a ball
Baaaaaaalllll
Oh daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy
And a chain.
Yeah!

Songwriters: Willie Mae Thornton